A retrosternal goiter is defined as at least 50% of the thyroid tissue located intrathoracically. They can be primary or secondary, wherein primary retrosternal (1% of all mediastinal goiters) that arise from accessory thyroid tissue located in the chest. Primary retrosternal goiters are supplied by intra thoracic blood vessels and do have any connection to thyroid tissue in the neck. Secondary mediastinal goitres arise from surgery, the treatment of choice for retrosternal goiter. It may be sub sternal, wholly intrathoracic or plunging i.e. intrathoracic but is forced into the neck while coughing. Retrosternal goiter extending beyond the aortic arch into the posterior mediastinum are treated usually with sternotomy or lateral thoracotomy but majority of retrosternal goiters can be resected through a single cervical incision. Here, we report such a case of retrosternal goitre which was managed successfully in our hospital by a trans cervical approach with good surgical outcome.
Published Date: 2023-03-01; Received Date: 2022-10-27
