Intrathoracic Mediastinal Thyroid Goiters

Abstract

Thyroid goiters are a relatively frequent finding and occur in approximately 5% of the world's population. The majority of thyroid goiters are confined to the cervical region (Figure 1A), but 2% to 19% of thyroid goiters extend into the thorax. Thyroid goiters are called substernal goiters when at least 50% of the thyroid mass extends below the suprasternal notch (Figure 1B). Substernal goiters present radiographically as anterior-superior mediastinal masses. A small group of intrathoracic goiters, or about 20%, migrate dorsal to the trachea and the esophagus into the retrotracheal space, and present as posterior mediastinal masses (Figure 1C). Imaging plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of intrathoracic thyroid goiters because the potential surgical intervention is contingent on the location and size of the thyroid mass.1,2