a goitre with a portion of its mass located in the mediastinum

Primary intra-thoracic goitres arise from aberrant thyroid tissue which is ectopically located in the mediastinum, receive their blood supply from mediastinal vessels and are not connected to the cervical thyroid. They are rare, representing less than 1% of all RGs

Secondary RGs develop from the thyroid located in its normal cervical site. Downward migration of the thyroid into the mediastinum is facilitated by negative intra-thoracic pressure, gravity, traction forces during swallowing and the presence of anatomical barriers preventing the enlargement in other directions (thyroid cartilage, vertebral bodies, strap muscles, especially in patients with a short, large neck). These secondary RGs are, characteristically, in continuity with the cervical portion of the gland and receive their blood supply, depending on cervical vessels, almost always through branches of the inferior thyroid artery.

Plunging goiter : rise with deglutition and then descent again through the thoracic inlet

Mediastinal goiter : lie wholly in the chest but are connected with the thyroid and supplied by thyroid vessels through narrow band

Intrathracic goiter : lie wholly in the chest but completely separated from the gland supplied by mediastinal vessels

Short-necked individuals Usually after middle age Intrathracic goiter more common in men

May remain symptomless for years Dyspnea due to displacing and compressing

on the trachea The Dyspnea aggravated by any posture that

reduces the thoracic inlet as lying down or flexion the neck

The patient prefer to spend the night in a chair

Some time they miss diagnosed as asthmatic Sometimes there is dysphagia

Inspection

Palpation : thyroid gland enlarged

Percussion of the sternum may reveal retrosternal dullness

X-ray

X-ray

CT

CT

CT

Tc99m

Fiberscope

Thyroidectomy is the only line of treatment

Mostly via cervical approach , rarely a median sternotmy is required

Devascularization is done via the neck from which the retrosternal portion derived its blood supply

Special care should be exerted to avoid injury of the recurrent laryngeal nerves during the delivery of retrosternal goter