XXXX : Experience with 50  cases.

@entity1 @entity13209 @entity1184 @entity5 @entity260 @entity3746
INTRODUCTION: Goiter is localized or generalized @entity1184 . It is usually cervical, but may show intra-thoracic development beyond the thoracic inlet and down to the mediastinum: i.e., @entity13209 . The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological, clinical and paraclinical profile of @entity13209 and the difficulties of management. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study included 50  cases from our ENT department. RESULTS: Mean age was 47  years, with a sex ratio of 0.06. Clinical symptomatology was dominated by medial anterior cervical swelling. Compression signs were observed in 26  @entity1 , and cervical lymph nodes in 3. Mean time to consultation was 7  years. Fiberoptic endoscopy found @entity3746 in 3  @entity1 . Cervical ultrasonography was the first-line diagnostic test. Cervical-thoracic CT scan was requested in 45  @entity1 to study thoracic extension and the relation of the thyroid mass with the supra-aortic vascular axes. Treatment systematically comprised total thyroidectomy on a cervical approach. There were 6  cases of @entity5 . DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION: Substernal goitre is fairly frequent. Despite particularities, an exclusively cervical approach is sufficient in a large majority of cases. The substernal nature of the goitre did not have major @entity260 .
