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Summary
Substernal goiters, thyroid enlargements below the thoracic inlet, are reviewed. Resection is indicated for most patients, with rare complications, though recurrence and occult carcinoma are possible.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Endocrinology
- Surgery
Background:
- Substernal goiter is defined as thyroid enlargement with the greater mass inferior to the thoracic inlet.
- Most substernal goiters originate from the cervical thyroid gland, with truly ectopic mediastinal goiters being rare.
- The condition typically affects individuals in their fifth decade, with a predominance of women.