Substernal goiter is a rare disease of the thyroid gland. It is more prevalent in adult women over 60 years of age, due to a progressive increase of the gland that invades the thoracic cavity. The option for clinical or surgical treatment has not been well established with no consensus on when the patient must be operated. This study results from a case report and a literature review on surgical treatment of the substernal goiter from 1995 to 2000. This review is based on the Medline and Lilacs sites. The major objectives are updating and guiding. The diagnosis and therapeutic management in a case of substernal goiter are discussed.
Substernal goiter; Diagnosis; Clinical treatment; Surgical treatment
