Diagnosis and surgical therapy of substernal goiter / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the presentation,sensitivity of different diagnostic methods,snrgical modalities and pathological findings for patients of substemal goiter. Methods The clinical data of fifty nine cases of substernal goiter surgically treated were retrospectively analyzed. Results The main symptoms of substernal goiter patients were asymptomatic cervical mass(39/59),airway obstruction (13/59),hyperthyroidism(4/59),hoarseness(3/59)and choke(3/59).The sensitivity of chest X-ray,ultrasonography,CT and scintigraphy was 62.8%,15.8%,85.7%,and 50.0%respectively,and the specificity Was 99.4%,99.8%,99.5%and 99.0%,respectively.Standard cervical approach was successful for thyroidectomy operations in 57 cases.One patient underwent thyroidectomy by sternotomic approach,and another one by combined cervici-sternotomic approach.No major complications or perioperative deaths occurred.Pathology revealed nodular goiter in 48 cases.Grave's disease in one,thyroid adenoma in 2,and carcinoma in 8. Conclusions CT and chest X-ray are sensitive diagnostic techniques for substerual goiter.Cervical approach is appropriate for most substernal goiter.