[Clinical application of retrograde thyroidectomy from top to bottom in retrosternal thyroid surgery].

Objective:To investigate the value of retrograde thyroidectomy from top to bottom in the operation of retrosternal thyroid surgery. Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on the cases of retrosternal goiter excised by our surgeons from January 2017 to June 2022,the technical points, feasibility and advantages of the operation were summarized. Results:A total of 15 cases of retrosternal goiter treated by retrograde thyroidectomy were collected, including 5 cases of type Ⅰ retrosternal goiter and 10 cases of type Ⅱ retrosternal goiter.The postoperative pathology was benign. The surgical time is 40-60 minutes for unilateral retrosternal goiter and 70-90 minutes for bilateral goiter. All patients were discharged normally within 7 days after operation, and no operative complications were observed such as bleeding, hoarseness or hypoparathyroidism. Conclusion:This surgical excision method of thyroid is suitable for the type Ⅰ and type Ⅱ retrosternal goiter surgery, which can avoid the difficulties in exposing and separating the the inferior thyroid behind the sternum in conventional surgical method, speed up the operation and reduced the difficulty of operation, and has certain promotion value in clinic.

Depth of mediastinal extension can predict sternotomy need for substernal thyroid goiters.

BACKGROUND: Surgical excision of substernal thyroid goiters is usually achieved through a conventional transcervical approach, and transthoracic excision is rarely necessary. Currently, there are no clear guidelines for substernal thyroid goiters that may require a transthoracic approach. This study examined what preoperative factors were significantly associated with transthoracic surgical excision for substernal thyroid goiters. METHODS: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data of 109 patients with substernal thyroid goiters from a single institution was performed. The patients were stratified by transcervical and transthoracic approaches for substernal thyroid goiters. The factors possibly predictive of a transthoracic approach, including substernal extension beyond the thoracic inlet, patient-reported symptoms, tracheal deviation, and malignancy, were analyzed. Demographics including age, sex, and race, among others, were also studied. RESULTS: Of 1,080 patients who underwent surgical resection for multinodular goiter, there were 109 (10%) patients with substernal thyroid goiters. Of the substernal thyroid goiter group, 11 (10%) patients underwent partial sternotomy, whereas 6 (5.5%) underwent total sternotomy. On logistic regression, only substernal component of the thyroid goiter extending beyond the sternal notch into the mediastinum was statistically significant in predicting sternotomy (odds ratio 3.43, confidence interval 1.65-6.41, P < .001). Substernal thyroid goiters with mediastinal extension of ≥5 cm beyond the sternal notch showed a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 86.5% to predict need of sternotomy. CONCLUSION: Patients with substernal thyroid goiters who exhibit progressive enlargement and/or compressive symptoms should undergo surgical excision. Although most are removed through the conventional transcervical approach, substernal thyroid goiters with a depth of mediastinal extension ≥5 cm have a high likelihood of requiring sternotomy.

Surgical Management of 48 Patients with Retrosternal Goiter and Tracheal Stenosis: A Retrospective Clinical Study from a Single Surgical Center.

BACKGROUND Benign retrosternal thyroid goiters can become large enough to compress the trachea and result in tracheomalacia and stenosis. This retrospective study from a single surgical center aimed to study the surgical management of 48 patients with retrosternal goiter and tracheal stenosis diagnosed and treated from January 2017 to December 2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS All preoperative contrast-enhanced CT scans showed retrosternal goiter and tracheal stenosis. RG was classified into type I in 28 patients, type II in 12 patients, and type III in 8 patients. TS was classified into grade I in 31 patients, grade II in 11 patients, and grade III in 6 patients. All patients were referred for surgery. Clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS All operations were successfully performed. There were 41 patients with transcervical incision, 4 with cervical incision+sternotomy, 2 with cervical incision and thoracoscopic surgery, and 1 with cervical incision and surgery via the subxiphoid approach. Two patients presented recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. One patient showed short-term hand and foot numbness. The patients were pathologically diagnosed as simple nodular goiter (n=27), nodular goiter combined with cystic change (n=6), adenomatous nodular goiter (n=10), and thyroid adenoma (n=5). There was no prominent tumor recurrence or gradual TS remission. CONCLUSIONS This study has highlighted that patients with retrosternal goiter and tracheal stenosis may have comorbidities and require a multidisciplinary approach to management. The choice of anesthesia, surgical approach, and maintenance of the airway during and after surgery should be individualized.

Substernal Goiter: a case to remember.

Goiter is a localized or generalized thyroid hypertrophy. It can remain within the cervical region or grow down until it invades the mediastinum. The signs and symptoms depend on the size and location of the goiter. Although drugs and radioactive iodine are often used to treat thyroid disease, the presence of symptomatic substernal goiter is a clear indication for surgery. Death or postoperative complications rarely occur. We present a case of a 71-year-old man with recurrent thyroid pathology in the form of substernal goiter and hyperthyroidism even after partial thyroidectomy. The importance of this relates to the clinical evolution, volume, and location of the goiter as well as the surgical and pharmacological approach.

Substernal Goiter: a case to remember

SUMMARY Goiter is a localized or generalized thyroid hypertrophy. It can remain within the cervical region or grow down until it invades the mediastinum. The signs and symptoms depend on the size and location of the goiter. Although drugs and radioactive iodine are often used to treat thyroid disease, the presence of symptomatic substernal goiter is a clear indication for surgery. Death or postoperative complications rarely occur. We present a case of a 71-year-old man with recurrent thyroid pathology in the form of substernal goiter and hyperthyroidism even after partial thyroidectomy. The importance of this relates to the clinical evolution, volume, and location of the goiter as well as the surgical and pharmacological approach.

RESUMO O bócio é a hipertrofia da glândula tiroide localizada ou generalizada. Esta pode localizar-se na região cervical ou crescer através do mediastino. Os sinais e sintomas dependem do tamanho e da localização do bócio. Embora os fármacos e o iodo radioativo sejam frequentemente usados para tratar doenças tireoidianas, a presença do bócio subesternal sintomático é uma clara indicação para a cirurgia. A morte ou complicações pós-operatórias são raras. Apresentamos o caso de um homem de 71 anos com recorrência de patologia tireoidiana sob a forma de bócio subesternal e hipertireoidismo após tireoidectomia parcial. A importância desse caso relaciona-se com a evolução clínica, o volume e a localização do bócio e a abordagem cirúrgica e farmacológica desse tipo de patologia.

Surgical approach to the substernal goiter.

Surgery for substernal goiters can be technically demanding. Extensive mediastinal extension brings the thyroid gland into close quarters with vital intrathoracic structures. Proper preoperative planning is required to determine the potential need for an extracervical approach. Assessing the risk of requiring an extracervical approach is typically based on findings from cross-sectional imaging of the neck and chest. This article addresses the important anatomical considerations when resecting a large substernal goiter and also reviews various extracervical approaches.

Management of retrosternal goiter: Retrospective study of 72 patients at two secondary care centers.

OBJECTIVE: Data pertaining to the outcomes of retrosternal goiter surgeries performed at secondary care centers, where thoracic surgery expertise is not readily available, is infrequently reported. Careful patient selection is crucial to avoid an unexpected need for a sternotomy during surgery. We sought to evaluate the surgical management of patients with retrosternal goiters treated at two secondary care centers. METHODS: Retrospective review of clinical records and computed tomographic (CT) scans of 557 patients who underwent thyroid surgery at the Departments of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery of Manukau Surgery Center and Whangarei Base Hospital. Inclusion criterion was extension of goiter below the plane of the thoracic inlet on CT scan. Clinicopathologic features and surgical outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The prevalence of retrosternal goiter was 72 of 557 patients (12.9%). All patients in this series underwent thyroidectomy transcervically. Dyspnea was present in 48 patients (66.7%). On preoperative CT scans, the goiter was noted to extend beyond the aortic arch in seven patients (9.7%), tracheal bifurcation in five patients (6.9%) and posterior mediastinum in 15 patients (20.8%). Malignancy was diagnosed in eight patients (11.1%) histologically. Postoperatively, vocal cord paralysis was temporary in 5 patients (6.9%) and permanent in 1 patient (1.4%). Hypocalcaemia was transient in 10 patients (13.9%). No permanent hypocalcemia, tracheomalacia, postoperative hematoma or patient death was reported. During the study period, 4 patients were encountered in the outpatients setting whereby the evaluation of their CT imaging demonstrated features deemed to be at high risk of requiring a sternotomy: primary mediastinal goiter (n=2) and inferior extent of goiter to the level of right atrium (n=2). These patients were pre-emptively referred to a tertiary center where thoracic surgery service was available and their data was reported separately. CONCLUSION: With careful patient selection, the majority of retrosternal goiter can be resected transcervically with minimal morbidities. Preoperative CT scan yielded useful surgical information; in the presence of primary mediastinal goiter or inferior extent of goiter to the level of the right atrium, surgery should be planned in a tertiary center where thoracic surgeon is available.

Substernal Goiter: Correlation between Grade and Surgical Approach.

Substernal goiter is defined as a thyroid growth beyond the thoracic inlet. Using the cross-section imaging CT system, it can be classified into three grades. The aim of the study was to validate the surgical approach and the occurrence of postoperative complications with substernal goiter extension in our patient population. From a total of 1145 patients who underwent thyroid surgery at our institution in a 15-year period, 60 patients with substernal goiter were included. Clinical features and demographics, degree of extension, surgical details, and complications were analyzed. Mean ± SD age of the patients was 58 ± 14.7 years and 88 per cent were females. According to the cross-section imaging CT system 61.7 per cent were grade I, 23.3 per cent grade II, and 15 per cent grade III. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 78.3 per cent of the patients, subtotal thyroidectomy in 18.3 per cent, and lobectomy in 3.3 per cent. The cervical approach was sufficient to perform 96.7 per cent of the thyroidectomies, requiring partial sternotomy in only two patients with grade III substernal goiter. Patients with grade III substernal goiter had a higher risk for postoperative dysphonia (OR = 14.29, IC95% 1.14-178.9, P = 0.03), which occurred in three patients (two transient and one permanent). Transitory hypoparathyroidism was present in 20 patients (33.3%) and did not correlate with goiter extension. Most substernal goiters can be resected through a cervical approach, with relatively low morbidity. Postoperative dysphonia was directly related to the extension of the goiter. Few cases with grade III goiters require a partial sternotomy.

The Value of Preoperative Volumetric Analysis by Computerised Tomography of Retrosternal Goiter to Predict the Need for an Extra-Cervical Approach.

BACKGROUND: A thyroidectomy can be performed via a cervical incision in most patients with retrosternal goiter. AIMS: To investigate the correlation between the volume of the mediastinal portion of the thyroid gland and the need for an extra-cervical approach for retrosternal goiter. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic accuracy study. METHODS: The measurement of craniocaudal length and the volume of the mediastinal component of the thyroid gland on computerised tomography images was performed in 47 patients with retrosternal goiter. Of these 47 patients, 8 (17%) required an extra-cervical approach and were classified as group 1, and 39 (83%) patients that required a cervical incision were classified as group 2. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to determine the cut-off value for the craniocaudal length and the volume of the mediastinal thyroid mass, which significantly correlated with an extra-cervical approach for retrosternal goiter. RESULTS: Reoperative surgery was significantly more frequent in group 1 than in group 2 (50% vs 13%; p=0.03). The craniocaudal length of the mediastinal thyroid gland was significantly longer in group 1 than in group 2 (77±11 mm vs 31±21 mm, respectively; p=0.0001). The volume of the mediastinal component was significantly larger in group 1 compared to group 2 (264±106 cm3 vs 40±41 cm3, respectively; p=0.0001). The receiver operating characteristic curve of craniocaudal length and the volume of the mediastinal component identified ≥66 mm and ≥162 cm3 as the cut-off values with the maximum accuracy, respectively. The craniocaudal length of the thyroid mass below the thoracic inlet ≥66 mm or a volume of the mediastinal portion ≥162 cm3 were significantly associated with an extra-cervical approach (p=0.0001). For predicting an extra-cervical approach, the sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the cut-off value for craniocaudal length was 87.5%, 64% and 97%, respectively. For predicting an extra-cervical approach, the sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the cut-off values for the mediastinal volume were 100%, 89% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: A thyroid volume of ≥162 cm3 extending below the thoracic inlet was a significant determining factor for an extra-cervical approach, with a negative predictive value for the extra-cervical approach of 100% for retrosternal goiter with smaller volumes. Further studies with an increased number of patients are needed to determine the value of volumetric analysis of retrosternal goiter to predict the need for an extra-cervical approach in retrosternal goiter.

Cancer Frequency in Retrosternal Goiter.

Retrosternal goiter prevalence is 5 to 40 per cent according to classifications in goiter series. Goiters with mediastinal extension were reported to be related with higher cancer rates. In our study, we aimed to investigate whether cancer incidence increased in retrosternal goiters compared with the cervical ones. Three hundred and ninety consecutive patients, who had surgery because of retrosternal goiter in Istanbul University Medical Faculty Department of General Surgery between 2005 and 2015 were included in the study (Group 1). Control group included 880 patients who had surgery because of nontoxic multinodular goiter in the same period (Group 2). Preoperative ultrasonography (USG) was performed to each patient. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in suspicious nodules and results were recorded. Carcinomas in histopathological examination were classified as intrathorasic and extrathorasic. Diagnostic rates of USG results were compared with histopathologic cancer results. Papillary carcinoma was diagnosed in 76 patients with retrosternal goiter (19%) and in 200 patients in the control group (22%). No statistically significant difference was detected between groups regarding the tumor rates (P > 0.05). One hundred and forty-four tumoral foci were detected in 76 patients with papillary carcinoma in retrosternal goiter patients. Three hundred and seventy tumoral foci were detected in 200 patients with papillary carcinoma in the control group. In the retrosternal goiter group, 104 carcinoma lesions of 144 papillary carcinomas were intrathorasic (72%). No statistically significant difference was detected between intrathorasic (2.1 ± 1 cm) and extrathorasic regiones (1.9 ± 0.8 cm) regarding the tumor size P > 0.05. When patients with and without cancer in the retrosternal goiter group were compared regarding familial thyroid cancer history, radiation to the neck, and cervical adenopathy, no statistically significant difference was detected. Cancer incidence of retrosternal goiters was not higher than that of the cervical ones. Yet, cancer foci of retrosternal goiters were commonly located in the intrathorasic area and were not detected with USG. Depending on these findings, we suggest that all retrosternal goiters should be surgically treated.

Surgical management of substernal goitres at a tertiary referral centre: A retrospective cohort study of 2,104 patients.

BACKGROUND: When to use a thoracic approach to treat substernal goitres has often been discussed in the literature. But there are few published reports describing surgical outcomes and associated complications for patients with right-sided vs. left-sided substernal goitres. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients who underwent surgical management of substernal goitres, presenting factors indicating the use of a thoracic approach and differences between right- and left-sided goitre extensions. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2012, 2104 patients underwent thyroidectomy at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and 140 (6.7%) were diagnosed with substernal goitres. Patient medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and data were analysed to assess surgical outcomes. RESULTS: Seven (5.0%) patients required a thoracic approach for goitre removal. Goitre malignancy was verified in 17 (12.1%) patients. The most common postoperative complication was transient hypoparathyroidism (15.0%). Permanent RLN injury occurred in 4.3% of patients and was significantly more frequent using the thoracic approach. Unilateral extension of a substernal goitre was more common than bilateral extension. Right- and left-sided extensions occurred with equal frequency. The rate of postoperative complications was similar between groups and there were no patient deaths. CONCLUSION: Chest radiography and thyroid sonography may provide initial radiologic evidence of goitre extension into the superior mediastinum. Computed tomography evaluation of the depth of goitre extension to the tracheal bifurcation was the strongest predictor of the need to use a thoracic approach. There were no significant differences in the clinical features and outcomes of patients with right- and left-sided substernal goitres. The right recurrent laryngeal nerve shows increased susceptibility to damage during thyroid surgery for substernal goitres. The incidence of malignant substernal goitres is similar to that of malignant cervical goitres.

Sternotomy for substernal goiter: retrospective study of 52 operations.

PURPOSE: Surgical treatment of substernal goiter occasionally involves sternotomy. Classification and handling of these operations are widely discussed. We aimed to review surgical results after thyroid operations including median sternotomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of all thyroid operations performed in the department from 01.01.95 to 31.12.12. In 55 of 2065 thyroid operations (2.7 %), median sternotomy was performed. All hospital journals of the patients were collected and carefully reviewed. RESULTS: We included 52 of 55 identified patients. Pathologic examinations discovered malignant disease in 4 patients (8 %) and multinodular goiter in 48 patients (92 %). Mean operation time was 4 h and 5 min (n = 48). Mean estimated blood loss was 464 ml (n = 48). Blood transfusion was given in nine operations (17 %). Median duration of postoperative hospitalization was 7 days (range 4-27 days). Pulmonary complications occurred in 11 patients (21 %): six with pneumonia or atelectasis, three with pneumothorax, and two with pleural effusion. Three patients (6 %) had postoperative hypocalcaemia (permanent in two patients (4 %)). Three patients (6 %) had transient voice changes. Permanent vocal cord paresis was not observed in this series of patients. CONCLUSION: Thyroid operations with sternotomy are complicated procedures accompanied with considerable pulmonary complications. In spite of a large invasive procedure, the risk of hypoparathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was not increased.

Unanticipated thyroid cancer in patients with substernal goiters: are we underestimating the risk?

BACKGROUND: The rate of unexpected thyroid cancers found at the time of thyroidectomy is thought to be similar in patients with cervical and substernal multinodular goiters (MNGs). METHODS: The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of undiagnosed cancer found in patients undergoing a thyroidectomy for a cervical or substernal MNG. We conducted a review of patients with a preoperative diagnosis of an MNG (both cervical and substernal) at a tertiary referral center between 2005 and 2012. RESULTS: We identified 538 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for an MNG (144 with substernal MNGs and 394 with cervical MNGs). Patients with substernal MNGs were older (59.6 vs. 52.3; p < 0.001), more likely to be men (34 vs. 11.1 %; p < 0.001), and less likely to have a history of radiation exposure to the neck (2.1 vs. 12.4 %; p < 0.001). Thyroid cancer (>1 cm) was found in 13.7 % of substernal MNG specimens and in 6.3 % of cervical MNG specimens (p = 0.003). On multivariate analysis, substernal location [odds ratio (OR) = 2.360; confidence interval (CI), 1.201-4.638] was the only variable independently associated with an unexpected thyroid cancer on surgical pathology. CONCLUSION: The rate of postoperatively discovered thyroid cancer is significant in patients with substernal MNGs and is increased when compared to patients with cervical MNGs. Surgeons should counsel their patients regarding the possibility of this unexpected result.

Substernal thyroid biopsy using Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration.

Substernal thyroid goiter (STG) represents about 5.8% of all mediastinal lesions(1). There is a wide variation in the published incidence rates due to the lack of a standardized definition for STG. Biopsy is often required to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. Unlike cervical thyroid, the overlying sternum precludes ultrasound-guided percutaneous fine needle aspiration of STG. Consequently, surgical mediastinoscopy is performed in the majority of cases, causing significant procedure related morbidity and cost to healthcare. Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a frequently used procedure for diagnosis and staging of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Minimally invasive needle biopsy for lesions adjacent to the airways can be performed under real-time ultrasound guidance using EBUS. Its safety and efficacy is well established with over 90% sensitivity and specificity. The ability to perform EBUS as an outpatient procedure with same-day discharges offers distinct morbidity and financial advantages over surgery. As physicians performing EBUS gained procedural expertise, they have attempted to diversify its role in the diagnosis of non-lymph node thoracic pathologies. We propose here a role for EBUS-TBNA in the diagnosis of substernal thyroid lesions, along with a step-by-step protocol for the procedure.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and substernal goiter. An Italian multicenter study.

The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to verify whether the substernal goiter and the type of surgical access could be risk factors for recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy during total thyroidectomy. Between 1999-2008, 14,993 patients underwent total thyroidectomy. Patients were divided into three groups: group A (control; n=14.200, 94.7%), cervical goiters treated through collar incision; group B (n=743, 5.0%) substernal goiters treated by cervical approach; group C (n=50, 0.3%) in which a manubriotomy was performed. Transient and permanent unilateral palsy occurred significantly more frequently in B+C vs. A (P≤.001) and in B vs. A (P≤.001). Transient bilateral palsy was significantly more frequent in B+C vs. A (P≤.043) and in C vs. A (P≤.016). Permanent bilateral palsy was significantly more frequent in B+C vs. A (P≤.041), and in B vs. A (P≤.037). Extension of the goiter into the mediastinum was associated to increased risk of recurrent nerve palsy during total thyroidectomy.

Intrathoracic thyroid solitary fibrous tumor presenting with respiratory failure.

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is an uncommon mesenchymal neoplasm that arises primarily from the pleura, but recognized also in other tissues. SFT in the thyroid gland is extremely rare. Here we presented the second reported SFT arising in an intrathoracic goiter. The88-year-old woman was referred with a huge goiter involving upper mediastinum accompanied by airway obstruction and tracheostomy. The patient underwent a left subtotal thyroidectomy, which revealed a SFT. No recurrence was noted during 3 years of follow-up.