[Compressive goiters. Apropos of 80 cases]

Our retrospective study is based on 80 compressive goitres collected over a period of 7 years in the general surgical department of the Ibnou Rochd University Teaching Hospital, Casablanca. Dyspnea was the predominant clinical manifestation and was encountered in 82.5% of cases, followed by dysphonia (65%), dysphagia (46%) and finally venous compression (8.7%). Hyperthyroidism was encountered in 26.25% of cases, 57% of these being due to Grave's disease. The goitre extended mediastinally in 38% of cases but resection was possible on cervicotomy alone. Post-operative sequelae were minor in nature, though one death did occur. On histological examination 85% of these goitres were benign and only 15% were of a malignant nature. This is in agreement with the data in the literature which confirms that compression is not synonymous with malignancy.