후종격동에 발생한 갑상선종 1예

Case of Posterior Mediastinal Goiter

Intrathoracic goiters can be classified anterior and posterior mediastinal goiter with its locations. Most intrathoracic goiters are retrosternally situated in the anterior mediastinal compartment. Posterior mediastinal goiters are rare, but might present a difficult diagnostic and surgical problem. Although thyroid goiters are nearly always amenable to a cervical approach, posterior mediastinal goiters may require a combined cervico-thoracic approach with sternotomy or thoracothomy. We herein describe a case of posterior mediastinal goiter which was excised only by cervical approach. The relevant literature is briefly reviewed.