Ectopic thyroid tissue in the left ventricular outflow tract

Ectopic thyroid tissue in the heart (struma cordis) is rare. The only repor t from a hemodynamically significant obstruction of the left ventricular ou tflow tract (LVOT) by a heterotopic thyroid gland was published in 1988. In our patient, a 42-year-old woman with recurrent chest pain, two spheric ca rdiac tumors were diagnosed by transthoracal echocardiography. One of the t umors, obstructing the LVOT, could successfully be resected under cardiopul monary bypass. The pathologic examination showed a colloid-filled ectopic t hyroid gland. The second tumor, which was entirely located in the submembra neous part of the interventricular septum, had no hemodynamic influence, an d was left in situ to avoid surgical damage of adjacent intraseptal structu res. The midterm follow-up showed no recurrence. (C) 2000 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.