Benign multinodular goitre presenting as acute decompensated type two respiratory failure

Abstract

Acute airway obstruction is a life-threatening complication of benign goitre mostly occurring in cases of known progressing goitres. The index presentation of goitre with decompensated type two respiratory failure is an exceedingly rare and a diagnostically challenging presentation. We discuss the case of a woman in her 50 s, who had been diagnosed with asthma by her general practitioner, but during admission was found to have a large goitre with retrosternal extension causing critical tracheal compression. She presented with acute decompensated type two respiratory failure. We explore the diagnostic confounding posed by the patient’s background of asthma and describe the initial management of the patient with non-invasive ventilation by the emergency department. The diagnosis of upper airway obstruction was not apparent which is an interesting anomaly in this case. She underwent an emergency hemithyroidectomy and recovered with a resolution of her respiratory symptoms. Histology confirmed benign multinodular hyperplasia.