title: Superior vena cava syndrome and tracheal obstruction due to multinodular goiter.
abstract: Tracheal obstruction and superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome are rare complications of retrosternal goiter. These two conditions present a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Malignancy is the most common cause of SVC syndrome. Determining whether SVC syndrome is due to a benign or malignant process is imperative before instituting treatment, but this determination may be difficult. We present a case of a patient presenting with upper airway obstruction and SVC syndrome with a large mediastinal mass. The mass was determined to be a multinodular goiter. The patient was managed by surgical removal of the goiter with complete resolution of symptoms. This case illustrates the need for careful preoperative evaluation and the importance of establishing a histologic diagnosis prior to initiating treatment for SVC syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Wright Patterson USAF Medical Center, Ohio 45433-5529.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McKellar
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Verazin
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Spiegel
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Block
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000150:complications*; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013479:Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D014133:Tracheal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*