[Plunging and mediastinal goiters]

Of 185 cases of substernal goitre operated upon between 1976 and 1985, four were patients with autonomous mediastinal goitre. Diagnosis was established from results of clinical examination, a scan of mediastinum and radiologie imaging with a cervical and mediastinal CT scan as the investigation of choice. Treatment is exclusively surgical because of the risk of mediastinal compression. Most cases in this series were operated upon through a purely cervical approach, but 22 patients required partial upper sternotomy combined with cervicotomy, this minimal approach route allowing very good exposure of upper mediastinum.