[Posterior (retrovascular) mediastinocervical goiters]

Three cases are presented of endo-thoracic goiters with posterior, retro-vascular developement, a very rare variety of the mediastino-cervical goiter. The anatomic pathways are described, along which this variety of goiter can migrate inside the thorax, as well as the radiologic signs which allow to make a diagnosis. In view of making a choice of the access route the importance of the diagnosis is particularly stressed, before surgery is attempted. It is also demonstrated that the best route is the vertical cervicosternotomy of the partial type (the Welti technique), completed by antero-lateral thoracotomy in the III-rd right intercostal space.