Large Retrosternal Goitre: A Diagnostic and Treatment Dilemma

Retrosternal goitre is usually referred to as enlarged thyroid gland with greater than 50% 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 shortness of breath in a young female who was treated as a case of long term asthma and was then discovered to have a huge retrosternal goitre extending down to the aortopulmonary window. The mass was resected through median sternotomy and the patient was discharged in a good condition and without further need for asthma treatment. From Department of Surgery,Division of General Surgery, College of Medicine & King Saud University, King Khalid University Hospital Received: 06 Mar 2010 Accepted: 02 Apr 2010 Address correspondence and reprint request to: Dr. Gamal Khairy, Associate Professor & Consultant General Surgeon, Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, College of Medicine & King Saud University, King Khalid University Hospital E-mail: [email protected] Khairy G, et al. OMJ. 25, (2010); doi:10.5001/omj.2010.44