Difficult airway due to cervical haemorrhage caused by spontaneous rupture of a parathyroid adenoma: A case report

Figure 1 Preoperative axial venous phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography image of the neck (hyoid level). The soft tissue density lesion is in contact with the posterior tracheal wall anteriorly, anterior cervical vertebra posteriorly, and the bilateral carotid sheaths, and is displacing the surrounding tissue and enveloping part of the vessels. There is no obvious enhancement of the lesion, which has a slightly lower density than muscle. There is swelling and effusion in the surrounding fatty tissue.

Figure 2 Preoperative sagittal venous phase contrast-enhanced computed tomography image of the neck (median plane). The soft tissue density lesion extends from the neck to the mediastinum and involves the posterior pharyngeal wall, middle and upper oesophagus, posterior cervical trachea, and thoracic trachea. The nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngeal pharynx are compressed and narrowed. The trachea is compressed.

Figure 3 The process of the event in chronological order. ICU: Intensive care unit.