title: Diagnostic value of conventional chest radiography in intrathoracic goiters-retrospective analysis of 2570 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Since intrathoracic goiters (IG), either cervico-mediastinal goiters (CMGs) or mediastinal nodules (MNs), can lead to sternotomies and/or evitable reoperations, their detection is mandatory before thyroid surgery. A systematic screening by CT scan or MRI is not conceivable because of their expensiveness. We tested if conventional chest radiography (CCR) could remain a good screening tool for IG before thyroid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study (2554 patients), CCR usefulness was evaluated in relation with patients' complaints, clinical examination, neck US, and anatomical and surgical findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CMGs (n = 67) and MNs (n = 42) were symptomatic in 10 and 5 patients, respectively. Clinical examination or neck US suspected their existence in 25 and 13 and 45 and 17 patients, respectively. Among the 50 IG detected by CCR (42 CMGs and 8 MNs), 4 CMGs and 2 MNs were missed by clinical examination or neck US. CCR failed to detect IG in 59 patients (54%): 25 CMGs (37%) and 34 MNs (80%). Twenty-eight IG (9 CMGs and 19 MNs) were discovered during surgery. CCR resulted in false positive in 88 out of 2445 patients (3.5%). CCR potentially avoided reoperation in two patients (a maximum saving of 6160 €, whereas the total cost of CCR was 54,895 €).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CCR should not be used routinely for the preoperative detection of IG. Surgeons should preferably use clinical examination or neck US and directly perform CT scan when a mediastinal extension is suspected.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Surgery Department, Hôpital Européen, 6 rue Désirée Clary, 13003, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Fares
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benmiloud
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine secteur Timone, Inserm UMR 1062, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille, France.|Faculté de Médecine secteur Timone, Aix-Marseille Univ, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grino
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine secteur Timone, Aix-Marseille Univ, 27 boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385, Marseille, France.|Division of Geriatric Medicine, State Geriatric Centre, 176 Avenue de Montolivet, 13012, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Surgery Department, Hôpital Européen, 6 rue Désirée Clary, 13003, Marseille, France. anne.denizot@dbmail.com.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Denizot
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008400:Mass Chest X-Ray; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cervico-mediastinal goiters; Chest X-rays; Intrathoracic goiters; Mediastinal nodules; Thyroid surgery