Cervico-mediastinal goiter: Experience on 215 cases [IL GOZZO CERVICO-MEDIASTINICO. ESPERIENZA SU 215 CASI]

Several matters concerning cervico-mediastinal goiter are still controversial, such as nosographic classification, association with other thyroid diseases, surgical strategies related to short and long term complications. The aim of this report is to retrospectively analyze the historical and clinical findings of 215 cervico-mediastinal goiters, in order to show significant correlations among them. The present search indicates: cervico-mediastinal goiter usually arises in more aged patients than any other thyroid disease; the goiter with a complex endothoracic development had an increased rate of complications; the group of patients with hyperthyroidism or thyroid cancer presented a peculiar epidemiological and clinical pattern. Finally, some technical aspects of surgical procedure and strategy are stressed with regard to short and long term complications