Huge Retrosternal goitre -A case report

Retrosternal goitre is usually referred to as enlarged thyroid gland with greater than 50 percent of its mass below the thoracic inlet. It has a clinical importance because its compressive symptoms may cause diagnostic problems and the selection of surgical approach is sometimes difficult. This report presents a case of chronic dyspnoea in a male who was treated as a case of long term bronchial asthma and was then discovered to have a retrosternal goitre. The mass was resected through a combined cervical and median sternotomy approach and the patient was discharged in a good condition and without further need for asthma treatment. CT scan is at present the most exhaustive test for assessment of extension of goitre and compression effects. An attempt to remove the goitre through the cervical wound should be done using all the available techniques. When difficulty is encountered assistance of a thoracic surgeon should always be sought with least threshold.