Ricard Simó1, Iain J Nixon2, Vincent Vander Poorten3, Miquel Quer4, Ashok R Shaha5, Alvaro Sanabria6, Fernando Lopez Alvarez7, Peter Angelos8, Alessandra Rinaldo9, Alfio Ferlito9. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas's Street, SE1 9RT, London, UK. ricard.simo@gstt.nhs.uk. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, UK. 3. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Oncology, Section Head and Neck Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. 4. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital de San Pau Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. 5. Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Cornell University Medical College, New York, USA. 6. Department of Surgery, Universidad de Antiloquia, Medellin, Colombia. 7. Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital Universitario de Asturias - Universidad de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain. 8. Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Medical Centre, Chicago, USA. 9. Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Udine School of Medicine, Udine, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intrathoracic goitres (ITG) often present with compressive symptoms and require specialised care by experienced surgical teams. Most ITG can be accessed by a transcervical approach (TCA) and only between 1 and 15% will require an extracervical approach (ECA). Many controversies exist regarding the clinical presentation, evaluation, selection of cases for ECA, surgical technique and outcomes. This paper reviews the recent literature on the management, outcomes and evidence-based treatment strategies of ITG. METHODS: We conducted a review of the literature on the evaluation, management and outcomes of surgery for ITGs. RESULTS: The incidence of cancer in the ITGs ranges between 4 and 20%. Multiplanar CT scanning offers the best preoperative evaluation and aids to determine the approach. Most ITG can be accessed by TCA and ECA are only needed in maximum 15% of cases. In experienced hands, the outcome of these surgeries is comparable to thyroid surgery for non-ITG. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for ITG is challenging. The experienced surgeon however, with few exceptions can address ITG via TCA, with outcomes comparable to those of uncomplicated thyroid surgery.
BACKGROUND:Intrathoracic goitres (ITG) often present with compressive symptoms and require specialised care by experienced surgical teams. Most ITG can be accessed by a transcervical approach (TCA) and only between 1 and 15% will require an extracervical approach (ECA). Many controversies exist regarding the clinical presentation, evaluation, selection of cases for ECA, surgical technique and outcomes. This paper reviews the recent literature on the management, outcomes and evidence-based treatment strategies of ITG. METHODS: We conducted a review of the literature on the evaluation, management and outcomes of surgery for ITGs. RESULTS: The incidence of cancer in the ITGs ranges between 4 and 20%. Multiplanar CT scanning offers the best preoperative evaluation and aids to determine the approach. Most ITG can be accessed by TCA and ECA are only needed in maximum 15% of cases. In experienced hands, the outcome of these surgeries is comparable to thyroid surgery for non-ITG. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for ITG is challenging. The experienced surgeon however, with few exceptions can address ITG via TCA, with outcomes comparable to those of uncomplicated thyroid surgery.
Authors: A-S Simons; S Van Slycke; K Van Den Heede; P Van Crombrugge; K Tournoy; P Simons; H Vermeersch; N Brusselaers Journal: Updates Surg Date: 2021-03-29