| Abstract: | Pulmonary emphysema is not an infrequent complication of tracheal compression due to goiter.In many cases the goiter is in the mediastinum and therefore overlooked.Among 13 patients with this combination of disease, chronic cough, dyspnea and wheezing were the chief respiratory symptoms. Ten of the 13 patients also had hyperthyroidism; in eight of the ten the disease was of the “masked” variety and both the thyrotoxicosis and the mediastinal mass were overlooked.Early recognition and surgical removal of substernal goiter may prevent or retard otherwise irreversible and progressive tracheobronchopulmonary disease.Medical management of such cases with thiouracil preparations may lessen the toxic symptoms but probably will not affect the mechanical compression of the trachea. |
