[Substernal goiter: personal experience].
OBJECTIVE
The Authors report on their experience in the surgical treatment of substernal goiter.


METHODS
Between 1972 and 2004, 222 patients with substernal goiters were observed among 2720 patients undergoing surgical treatment for various thyroid diseases (8.16%). Seventy patients underwent subtotal thyroidectomy and 152 total thyroidectomy. A cervical approach was employed in 213 cases, a sternotomy was required in 7 patients while a thoracotomy was necessary in 2 cases. Postoperative complications were definitive hypoparathyroidism in 9 cases (4%), recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy in 5 patients (2.2%) and postoperative bleeding in 4 cases (1.8%); there was no intraoperative mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
In substernal goiter it is necessary to define its exact relationship to neck and mediastinal structures in order to establish the most appropriate surgical approach. In the majority of the cases total thyroidectomy is possible through a cervical approach with an acceptable morbidity rate. When dissection of the substernal goiter is difficult and recurrent laryngeal nerve is not clearly identified, partial sternotomy is required to enable a better control of the nerve and the vessels with only a minimal morbidity rate. Thoracotomy is rarely necessary.
Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento di Chirurgia, Policlinico Universitario Monserrato, U.O. Chirurgia Generale. pgcalo@vaxca1.unica.it
Pietro Giorgio
PG
Calò
Alberto
A
Tatti
Stefania
S
Farris
Gabriele
G
Piga
Armando
A
Malloci
Angelo
A
Nicolosi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery; D013908:Thoracotomy; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed