Extracervical Approaches to Substernal Thyroid Goiter Resection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

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

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.

IntroductionA Sub-sternal goiter is a condition where there is an abnormal enlargement of thyroid gland that extends into the chest. The most commonly accepted definition is when >50% of the volume of a goiter extends into the thoracic inlet. We present an interesting case of a Sub-sternal goiter emerging as a cause of Grave's disease, years after Total Thyroidectomy.Clinical CaseThe Patient is a 75 year old female with PMH of endometrial cancer, who initially underwent total thyroidectomy due to Thyromegaly causing dysphagia, and was started on Levothyroxine therapy after surgery. Three years later, a sub-sternal mass, was incidentally found via CT chest, which measured 3.7cm in largest diameter. Nuclear Medicine uptake and scan confirmed thyroid origin of this mass with an increased uptake but no percentage uptake was provided. Patient's Thyroid functions tests remained within normal range on levothyroxine. But over the next 2 years,the patient needed declining doses of LT4, then became euthyroid, off of levothyroxine and eventually became hyperthyroid, with positive Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin. She also developed symptoms of tremors and tachycardia, and developed Atrial fibrillation as well. Noophthalmopathyor dermopathy was found on exam. Repeat CT chest showed the sub-sternal goiter had increased to a partially calcified mass of 5.6 cm. NM uptake scan showed 38.6%, at 24 hour, generalized uptake of this mass. Radioactive Iodine Ablation was performed with 30.1mCi and she subsequently became hypothyroid again until 1 year ago when she had episodes of A-fib again, and was found with TSH of 0. 09(0.45-5.33mIU/L) and FT40.9 (0.6- 1.2 ng/dl) and free T3 of 6.4 (pg/dl), off of levothyroxine. NM uptake and scan was repeated which indicated recurrence of Grave's disease from the same source. The Patient chose to initiate Methimazole therapy while contemplating surgical resection.Clinical Lesson: This is a unique case of Sub-sternal goiter, presenting as grave's disease, years after total thyroidectomy. This case emphasizes on the importance of identifying and treating sub-sternal goiter, as it can cause severe Grave's disease and thyrotoxicosis. Especially in this case, since Grave's caused by this sub-sternal goiter was recurrent after Radioactive iodine ablation.Presentation: No date and time listed

Cerclage placement in twin pregnancies with short or dilated cervix does not prevent preterm birth: a fragility index assessment

Intrathyroidal parathyroid carcinoma. A case report and review of the literature

Additional age-related issues should be considered when managing breast cancer in young women.1 Among them, the potential consequences of anticancer treatments on ovarian function and fertility potential are of particular concern and need to be addressed as early as possible after diagnosis.2,3 Therefore, current guidelines strongly voice the need to provide proper oncofertility counseling with all patients of reproductive age with newly diagnosed cancer irrespective of its stage.2,3 This is a crucial step to discuss with all young women their disease and prognosis, the required treatments including their potential gonadotoxicity, the need for contraception during and after active systemic therapies, their future desire of conception, likelihood of pregnancy, its safety and outcomes as well as the available strategies to avoid the negative impact of the proposed treatment on ovarian function and fertility.

Airway obstruction in substernal goiter clinical and therapeutic implications

The Pemberton maneuver is a tool that may be utilized during the physical examination to demonstrate the presence of latent pressure in the thoracic inlet [1]. The maneuver is achieved by having the patient elevate both arms until they touch the sides of the face. A positive sign is marked by the presence of facial congestion and cyanosis, as well as respiratory distress after approximately one minute [2]. The sign is most commonly present in patients with substernal goiters where the goiter “corks off” the thoracic inlet [3]. We describe a 67-year-old Caucasian male with a positive Pemberton’s sign due to compression of the thoracic inlet by enlarged mediastinal nodes. The sign was amplified by the presence of a restrictive cardiomyopathy and constrictive pericarditis due to amyloidosis. We propose that a positive Pemberton’s sign should not be used exclusively to evaluate the probability of a substernal goiter, but rather to assess the potential for vascular compression due to pathological changes in the anatomical environment of the thoracic inlet.

Issue Highlights

Post-endoscopy Esophageal Neoplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus: Consensus Statements From an International Expert Panel

Underutilization of Paravertebral Block in Thoracic Surgery

Vesiculobullous Lyme disease: A case series

Retrosternal or substernal goitre is a clinical entity defined when a significant proportion of the thyroid gland extends inferiorly through the thoracic inlet into the mediastinum. It has an incidence...

To evaluate the accuracy of several methods aimed to detect Helicobacter pylori stool antigens in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Thirty-four patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding because of peptic ulcer were included. The first stool sample during hospitalization was collected, and stool antigens were determined with: polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Premier-Platinum-HpSA); monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Amplified-IDEIA-HpStAR); and rapid monoclonal immunochromatographic test (ImmunoCard-STAT HpSA). A patient was considered infected when H. pylori was diagnosed with invasive tests (rapid urease test or histology) or with (13)C-urea breath test. When all tests were negative, a new breath test was repeated after stopping proton pump inhibitors. All patients were infected and, therefore, only sensitivity of the tests could be calculated: polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (74%), monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (94%), and rapid monoclonal immunochromatographic test (60%; concordance between the two observers was high, kappa = 0.9). Neither the presence of maelena nor the delay in obtaining stool samples explained false negatives. Neither the polyclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay stool antigen test nor the rapid immunochromatographic stool antigen test can be recommended to diagnose H. pylori infection in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. However, the monoclonal enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay stool antigen test is highly sensitive for detecting the infection in patients with this complication, although more studies are necessary to evaluate the specificity of the method.

ASGE guideline on screening for pancreatic cancer in individuals with genetic susceptibility: summary and recommendations