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[Intrathoracic retrotracheal goiter: excision through a cervical approach]
N Salame1, P Winiszewski, S Rossier
1Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Endocrinienne, Centre Hospitalier de Belfort.
Journal De Chirurgie
|October 17, 1998
Summary
A retrotracheal goiter extending into the posterior mediastinum caused a woman
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Retrotracheal goiters, a rare form of substernal thyroid enlargement, can compress adjacent structures.
- Dyspnea is a common presenting symptom of large or retrotracheal goiters.
Observation:
- A 53-year-old woman presented with dyspnea attributed to a retrotracheal goiter.
- Computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) delineated the goiter's extent and mediastinal relationships.
Findings:
- The goiter originated from the thyroid's lower pole and extended into the posterior mediastinum.
- Surgical removal was successfully achieved via a cervicotomy approach.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diagnostic utility of advanced imaging in evaluating retrotracheal goiters.
- Cervicotomy can be an effective surgical approach for selected cases of posterior mediastinal goiters.