Pitfalls in the follow-up of cervical and mediastinal goitres: role of CT imaging.
Four patients with cervical and mediastinal goitres were described. Routine investigation in these patients, including chest X-rays, oesophageal and tracheal X-rays and scintigraphy of the thyroid gland, failed to show significant changes over the years, or underestimated the true extent of the goitres. Three of the goitres caused severe mediastinal compression, evident only on computed tomography (CT) imaging, and requiring urgent surgery. The pros and cons of different diagnostic modalities for imaging cervical and mediastinal goitres are discussed, stressing the importance of CT imaging as exemplified in the cases presented.
Cohen
O
O
Endocrinology Unit for Adults, Shatkai Outpatient Clinic, Beilinson Medical Centre, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Herskovitz
P
P
Shindell
B
B
Leiba
S
S
Hadar
H
H
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed