Unusual presentation of acute upper airway obstruction caused by an anterior mediastinal mass.

We report an unusual case of acute upper airway obstruction. Inhalation of a foreign body caused choking in a 5-yr-old child, but subsequent investigations revealed a large anterior mediastinal tumour, externally compressing the trachea and the main bronchi. Such a presentation may be deceptive and is important, as general anaesthesia may result in complete airway obstruction with fatal consequences.