Question 1

i was diagnosed with a substernal goiter, supposed to have surgery. how do they do it?

Accepted Answer

Through the neck: Most substernal goiters are readily removed through a standard thyroidectomy incision in the neck.  Very seldom is it necessary to have an opening made in the upper part of the sternum. If it is known ahead of time that the goiter is very large and extends quite far into the chest, then a thoracic surgeon should be on standby or even potentially perform the procedure.

Question 2

what can cause a substernal goiter?

Accepted Answer

Not known: Decades ago iodine deficiency was a common cause.  These days the cause of benign enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) is not known.  A substernal goiter is an enlarged thyroid that extends from the neck into the chest.

Anyone with an enlarged thyroid should have an ultrasound and most likely a needle biopsy of the gland.

Question 3

what is retrosternal goiter?

Accepted Answer

Thyroid in chest: A goiter is enlarged thyroid.  The thyroid is in the neck but it can enlarge enough to drop into the chest.  Here it sits behind the sternum hence it is now a retrosternal goiter.

Question 4

nodule/goiter on thyroid causing a tight feeling in throat normal hormone levels should i ask about surgery for removal?

Accepted Answer

An option: If a thyroid mass is already causing compressive symptoms at this age, then surgery is an option.

Question 5

alternatives to surgery for multinodular goiters?

Accepted Answer

Wait and watch: If there are no symptoms and no suspicious nodule, i would suggest the question should be the other way around.  Are there any good alternatives to watching and waiting?  No.

Question 6

is surgery the only way to remove multinodular goiters in hashimotoes thyroidis?

Accepted Answer

Yes: A multinodular  goiter secondary to hashimoto's thyroiditis will likely decrease or stop functioning over time, but the bulkiness of the goiter does not usually become smaller. If the goiter is compressive and causes difficulty with swallowing or breathing, it should be surgically removed. Medical therapy is available to suppress the goiter and also to treat the hashimoto's.

Question 7

when will goiter surgery be necessary?

Accepted Answer

Size: If the thyroid enlarges enough that it starts to cause swallowing difficulties, speaking difficulties, or breathing difficulties. Usually do not want to wait until the symptoms listed above are severe, or if it is so large that the surgery becomes more difficult.

Question 8

can goiter come bak after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Recurrent goiter: Hello, if you have a partial thyroidectomy, then a goiter could occur in the remaining portion of your thyroid.

Question 9

do i need surgery for colloid goiter?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Surgical indication for thyroid is based on size of the goiter, symptoms of obstruction, and the fna diagnosis. There are times when surgery is a benefit, best to take family/friend with you to surgery consult. In many cases medical therapy and observation is all that is needed.

Question 10

what are the risks associated with a 2nd surgery for a moderate multinodular goiter?

Accepted Answer

There are several: Someone who has had prior thyroid surgery will have a lot of scarring or fibrosis in the area. This greatly increases the risk of damage to the parathyroid glands that control calcium metabolism, or to nerves that control the vocal cords and speaking voice in a second surgery.  Also, if the thyroid extends down into the chest, the surgeon is more like to need to cut bones to enter the chest.

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Doctor answers about:

Surgical removal of a substernal goiter

A member asked:

I was diagnosed with a substernal goiter, supposed to have surgery. how do they do it?

A member asked:

What can cause a substernal goiter?

A member asked:

What is retrosternal goiter?

A member asked:

Nodule/goiter on thyroid causing a tight feeling in throat normal hormone levels should i ask about surgery for removal?

A member asked:

Alternatives to surgery for multinodular goiters?

A member asked:

Is surgery the only way to remove multinodular goiters in hashimotoes thyroidis?

A member asked:

When will goiter surgery be necessary?

A member asked:

Can goiter come bak after surgery?

A member asked:

Do i need surgery for colloid goiter?

A member asked:

What are the risks associated with a 2nd surgery for a moderate multinodular goiter?

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