Bleeding "downhill" varices: a rare complication of intrathoracic goiter.

We report a case of a 68-year-old woman with a 16-year history of a benign goiter. The patient presented with hematemesis and a clinically evident superior vena cava syndrome. Preoperative evaluation demonstrated upper esophageal varices and large posterior mediastinal goiter. The patient underwent successful resection of the mass with complete resolution of both the superior vena cava syndrome and "downhill" varices.