A case of intrathoracic goiter emphasized usefulness of preoperative enhanced computed tomography

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman was introduced to our division because she was pointed out her big goiter by computed tomography (CT) in the close hospital. Her chief complain was slight swallowing disorder at the first visit. The nodule, about 5 cm in size, could be palpable at the left lobe of the thyroid. The isoechoic mass that the size was 4.1 cm in length was confirmed ultrasongraphically. Because of no information of the mediastinum, the enhanced CT had been done. As the result of this examination, the solitary tumor with lobular shape was found out. The operation was planned because she had a symptom due to goiter. The small incision of anterior neck was adopted to approach to the tumor of the left anterior mediastinum. After the partial resection of the nodule in the left thyroid gland, the nodule could be watched just like preoperated images according to enhanced CT and be extirpated. There are no signs of invasion, adhesion and special feeding vessels. The specimen consisted of two pieces (the tumor of left lobe: 5.5 by 3.0 cm in size, 26.9 g in weight; the mediastinal tumor: 3.9 by 2.8 cm in size, 10.9 g in weight).In conclusion, the enhanced CT was very useful for the doubtful case of intrathoracic goiter.