[Riedel's goitre - rare and difficult to diagnose reason for surgical treatment of goiters]

The paper reports a female patient treated surgically for Riedel's goitre. A total of 4775 patients were treated surgically between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2007 for various types of goitres. Thyroiditis was diagnosed in 193 (4.0%) cases. Among them Riedel's goitre was found in one (0.5%).

A 51-year-old woman P.G. (case record No. 1377/2007) was admitted to our hospital with considerable dyspnea, both inspiratory and expiratory, accompanied by marked stridor and retrosternal goitre, the latter suspected of neoplasmic process. Thyroid gland was hard, its left lobe extending behind the sternum. No disorders in thyroid hormonal function or high antibody titre against thyroid peroxidase were observed. Ultrasonography revealed large thyroid gland with mediastinal invasion, nodulated and hypoechogenic. Fineneedle biopsy suggested thyroid colloidal tumor. X-ray of the chest and neck revealed wide upper portion of the mediastinum and narrow trachea. Laryngological examination confirmed paralysis of left vocal fold. The patient was operated under general endotracheal anesthesia. Both thyroid lobes were partially resected together with the isthmus, and malacic trachea was decompressed. No complications were observed during postoperative period. Paraffin histopathological examination confirmed the presence of Riedel's goitre. The patient was discharged in general good condition. She was under regular follow-up control and died 1.5 year after operation from further progress of the disease.

Clinical course of Riedel's goitre may cause remarkable diagnostic problems, and requires a differentiation with thyroid malignant tumor. Surgical treatment of Riedel's goitres helps to quickly obtain correct diagnosis and improve both clinical condition and life comfort of the patients.