title: [The evaluation and surgical treatment of mass in the pretracheal space].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the pathological and clinical features and the surgical results of the mass in the pretracheal space.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1999 to 2004, 8 females and 3 males with an average of 43 years (from 32 to 61 years) were included CT scan, nuclear imaging, ultrasound and ultrasound-guided aspiration, endoscopic and laboratory measure were used in the evaluation for the masses before operation. Complete removal of mass was carried out in all patients under general anesthesia, and continuous negative pressure draining was routinely used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six masses with firm consistency could be moved easily transversely, but slightly moveable with swallowing. On contrast CT or ultrasound, all the masses had clear circumscription and showed rounded or lobular shape. No hemorrhage, chylous or lymph leakage, or recurrent laryngeal injury was encountered. Goiter was found in 6 cases, parathyroid adenoma in 2 cases, and thymoma, parathyroid cyst or lymphatic cyst was diagnosed in the rest three patients respectively. No recurrence was found with the following-up of 7 - 42 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Goiter, parathyroid adenoma and thymoma were common lesions presenting as mass in the pretracheal space and surgically curable without complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Shijtan Hospital, Capital Medical University, College of Otorhinolaryngology, Capital Medical University, Key Laboraory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Capital Medical University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Shijtan Hospital, Capital Medical University, College of Otorhinolaryngology, Capital Medical University, Key Laboraory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Capital Medical University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Shijtan Hospital, Capital Medical University, College of Otorhinolaryngology, Capital Medical University, Key Laboraory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery (Capital Medical University), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: Z X
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Peng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography