Intrathoracic goiter when encountered can be treated by thyroidectomy using cervical incision, only occasionally requiring extra cervical approach. We are reporting one such case in a patient with pituitary macroadenoma with extension of the adenomatous goiter into the posterior mediastinum. It was removed through the cervical collar incision using a vessel sealing device. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications during the procedure. The need for extra cervical incision should be decided on a case-to-case basis to avoid the increased morbidity associated with sternotomy and lateral thoracotomy incision.
KatlicMRWangCAGrilloHC. Substernal goiter. Ann Thorac Surg. 1985;39(4):391-399. doi:10.1016/s0003-4975(10)62645-8PMID:3885887.
3.
AlloMDThompsonNW. Rationale for the operative management of substernal goiters. Surgery. 1983;94(6):969-977. PMID: 6648812.
4.
TopcuSLimanSTCanturkZ, et al.Necessity for additional incisions with the cervical collar incision to remove retrosternal goiters. Surg Today. 2008;38(12):1072-1077. doi:10.1007/s00595-008-3768-9Epub 2008 Nov 28. PMID: 19039631.
5.
De AndradeMA. A review of 128 cases of posterior mediastinal goiter. World J Surg. 1977;1(6):789-797. doi:10.1007/BF01555944PMID: 607598.
6.
KatlicMRGrilloHCWangCA. Substernal goiter. Analysis of 80 patients from Massachusetts General Hospital. Am J Surg. 1985;149(2):283-287. doi:10.1016/s0002-9610(85)80086-6PMID:3970328.
