Bronchoscopic management of haemoptysis due to endobronchial metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Metastatic involvement of lung by thyroid cancer is common, although presentation with endobronchial disease is rarely encountered. When it occurs, threats to airway patency by luminal obstruction and haemoptysis may occur, requiring prompt recognition and intervention to avoid hypoxia and asphyxiation. Bronchoscopic evaluation is essential for both diagnosis and intervention. To our knowledge, we describe the first case of endobronchial papillary thyroid carcinoma elucidated using bronchoscopic biopsy followed by definitive management using argon plasma coagulation (APC) ablation. Endobronchial disease secondary to metastatic thyroid cancer may lead to airway obstruction and result in haemoptysis. We describe a rare case of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma resulting in endobronchial involvement diagnosed by bronchoscopic biopsy, and successfully managed with argon plasma coagulation ablation.