INTRATHORACIC GOITERS - 62 OPERATED PATIE NTS

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.