Acute respiratory failure and tracheal obstruction in patients with intrathoracic goiter

Four cases of acute life-threatening tracheal obstruction due to intrathoracic goiter are reported. Acute respiratory insufficiency caused by an upper airway obstruction in patients with intrathoracic goiter is exceptional. In 3 of 4 cases reported, the histologic study showed multiple foci of recent hemorrhage, the mechanism probably responsible for these episodes.