RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Riedel's thyroiditis (RT) is a rare form of chronic thyroiditis, associated with fibroinflammatory process involving the thyroid and surrounding cervical tissues, leading to compressive symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of RT in a 73-year-old female with dyspnoea caused by severe trachea compression. She had reported dyspnoea during physical stress, and had noticed a large mass on the front of the neck. Despite the combination of various imaging modalities, the thyroid mass was not differentiated from thyroid malignancy and other thyroid disorder. Total thyroidectomy and tracheotomy were performed. During surgery, the thyroid had severe adhesion to surrounding tissue and the pathology revealed RT. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should be aware of RT. It is important to differentiate this condition from other thyroid disorders, especially malignant lesions. Thyroidectomy is indicated for patients with compressive symptoms, suspicious malignancy and failure of conservative management.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Retrosternal goiter is defined as a thyroid mass of which more than 50% is located below the thoracic inlet. The aim of this study is to assess the retrosternal goiter surgically approach through a neck incision and analyze the surgical technique. CASE PRESENTATION: The case reported by us used a single neck collar-shaped incision for huge retrosternal goiter with good outcome. The patient was surgically treated through a neck incision without the need for sternotomy or lateral thoracotomy. We did not observe definitive lesions in the inferior laryngeal nerve or definitive hypoparathyroidism. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with retrosternal goiter can be safely treated surgically through a single neck incision, which is less trauma and recovery quickly.
