Surgical management of intrathoracic goiters: 20 years experience

Background: Surgery is necessary for intrathoracic goiters (ITG) even in asymptomatic forms considering the risks of compression and malignancy. The major problem is the adequate approach.  Intrathoracic goiter’s removal can be performed via a cervical approach, whereas sternotomy might be required intraoperatively in some cases.Methods: A retrospective analysis of twenty years on 122 cases of intrathoracic goiters in a referral centre for thoracic surgery was carried out.  We included secondary substernal goiters and ectopic thoracic goiters.Our aim was to define the specifities of this surgery and its outcomes. Postoperative data were examined as well as morbidity and mortality factors.Results: The most common symptoms included dyspnea, cough and dysphagia. Whereas Twenty-two patients were asymptomatic. One hundred sixteen patients underwent a successful transcervical incision without thoracic approach. Six cases of primary goiters were noted, of whom 3 were extracted via a cervical approach. Two cases showed unilateral recurrent nerve paralysis and two cases a hypoparathyroidism.Conclusions: Surgical management of intrathoracic goiter was correlated with low morbidity and mortality The cervical approach was performed in the vast majority of cases without an extra cervical procedure.  Intrathoracic approaches were restricted to some selected indications.

[Squamous cell carcinoma arising in Verneuil's disease]

Verneuil's disease or hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic suppurative, and cicatricial inflammatory disease, mainly affecting apocrine-bearing area of the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon but a frightening complication of hidradenitis suppurativa. To report a new case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in Verneuil's disease. We reported a case of 60 year old man with a 30 years history of hidradenitis suppurativa in which squamous cell carcinoma arise. A wide surgical excision removing the tumour and leaving a large defect was performed. The patient had a well recovery, wounds healed well by primary intention. No recurrence observed at 18 months of follow up. Squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon complication of hidradenitis suppurativa. Surgical excision represents also the treatment of choice