Diagnosis and surgical treatment of the substernal goitre / 重庆医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics,diagnosis and surgical treatment of the substernal goitre.Methods:28 cases of substernal goiter operated were retrospectively analyzed.All were histopathologically proven.Results:This group included 25 secondary cases of cervical goitre and 3 primary cases.The clinical manifestations were cervical mass(25/28),thoracic discomfort(23/28) and dyspnoea(8/28).The preoperative diagnoses were established mainly on the basis of chest X ray combining with ~(131)Ⅰ scan.There was no operative mortality postoperatively, but 1 patient(3.6%)complicated with transient dysphonia and 3 cases relapsed.Conclusion:Chest X ray and ~(131)Ⅰ scan are helpful for making a diagnosis of substernal goiter before operation.Surgical removal of the tumor is the best choice with satisfactory prognosis.