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1. Carcinoid tumor
The mass certainly could reflect a thyroid malignancy extending caudally from the thyroid gland in the neck into the left superior mediastinum. The lesion could arise from the left lateral tracheal wall, given the destruction of this portion of the cartilaginous trachea- therefore, chondrosarcoma is a consideration, albeit rare. The most common primary malignancy of the trachea- squamous cell carcinoma- is a consideration as well. An isolated large nodal mass from lymphoma is also a possibility. While carcinoid tumors are not uncommon airway neoplasms, they are not commonly located in the cranial trachea, and they commonly grow mostly within and fill the airway lumen, rather than destroy the airway wall and extend into surrounding tissues.
Which of the following would be most useful for further evaluation of this patient? (Click on the correct answer to proceed to the ninth and final page)