Total Thyroidectomy by Median Sternotomy for Treatment of Substernal Goiter: A Case Report

Substernal goiter is a rare presentation of goiter but relatively frequent cause of anterior mediastinal mass. Symptomatic patients should be treated surgically with a total or partial thyroidectomy via a cervical or thoracic approach. This case report of a woman with a large symptomatic substernal goiter illustrates how the option to perform a partial median sternotomy may be useful when attempting a cervical approach. This allows for better visualization and resection of large masses and minimizes the risk of complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Furthermore, it reinforces that cases of substernal goiter should be treated at specialized centers in order to minimize complications and reach better patient outcomes.