[Surgical treatment of endothoracic goiter]

The authors make an analysis of the experience accumulated in the Clinic for Thoracic Surgery of Bucharest as a result of the surgical treatment of 16 patients endothoracic goiters. The authors stress the fact that these goiters should be differentiated from the "plunging goiter" variety, by their symptomatology, and by the different way of approaching their treatment. The diagnostic difficulties are stressed, especially since the uptake of iodine (radioactive iodine) can be negative in the endothoracic goiter of the functional type. The authors prefer thoracotomy, while the sternotomy is reserved only for the endothoracic goiters in the median area. The immediate results have been good in 15 cases. One patient died as a result of toxi-infectious phenomena.