28 Cases of Surgical Treatment of Substernal Goiter

Objective To study the surgical approaches and operative techniques for substemal goiter. Methods A retrospective study of 28 cases with substernal thyroid nodules was made. Resection via cervical collar incision was adequate in 25 cases. 3 substernal thyroid nodules were resected completely by combined thoracotomy and cervical collar incision. Results Twenty- eight substemal thyroid neoplasms had been successfully removed. Among them there were 22 goiters, 6 adenomas. The complication incidence was 11% (3/28). The overall follow - up was more than 3 years .There was no recrudescence. Conclusion Resection via cervical collar incision for retrosternal thyroid nodules is safe , reliabale and easy to operate.