Objectives: Intrathoracic goitres present as tumors of the upper media
stinum. Malignancy is uncommon, but sudden or progressive development
often leads to compression of the trachea. We report here our experien
ce with surgical exeresis. Methods: From 1980 to 1995, we operated 62
patients with intrathoracic goitre, There were 23 men and 39 women (me
an age 63 years), The main manifestations leading to diagnosis were dy
spnea (n=20; 32%) and identification of a mediastinal formation on rou
tine chest x-rays (n=19; 30%). Results: Antevascular goitre was seen i
n 24 patients (39%) and retrovascular goitre in 38 (61%), The retrovas
cular goitres were located anteriorly and laterally to the trachea in
21 patients (34%) and posteriorly in 17 (27%). Simple cervicotomy was
used in 57 patients (92%), Manubriotomy (n=1) and total sternotomy (n=
4) were also required, All intrathoracic goitres removed were benign,
Post-operative mortality was nul and morbidity was 11%: 2 cases of hyp
ocalcemia and 2 tracheomalacias including 1 with recurrent nerve palsy
and one with hematoma and pulmonary infection. Conclusion: Surgical e
xeresis of intrathoracic goitre is essentially required in case of res
piratory distress due to compression of the trachea, Morbidity is low
with simple cervicotomy.