Ectopic thyroid cancer diagnosed by endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration

We report a case of papillary carcinoma in a mediastinal ectopic thyroid diagnosed by endobronchial ultrasound‐guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS‐TBNA). In this case, the tumor was adjacent to the central airway; therefore, we attempted to perform EBUS‐TBNA to obtain specimens for a diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Surgical resection was conducted, and histological evaluation of the resected specimen confirmed ectopic papillary thyroid carcinoma, consistent with the histology from the EBUS‐TBNA specimen. As a safe and minimally invasive procedure, EBUS‐TBNA may be considered for the diagnosis of mediastinal lesions, including papillary carcinoma in mediastinal ectopic thyroid.