A case of mediastinal goiter treated surgically using a clavicle-lifting technique

INTRODUCTION: Mediastinal goiter is a benign disease, which is defined as a goiter with the greater portion of its mass lying below the thoracic inlet. It is controversial whether the cervical approach is the best approach for all mediastinal goiter surgeries. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old woman presented with respiratory discomfort during exertion. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a mediastinal goiter extending to the arch of the aorta. Surgical resection was performed using a clavicle-lifting technique. The excised specimen was 13 × 10 × 5 cm in size and weighed 220 g. The pathological diagnosis was nodular goiter. DISCUSSION: The clavicle-lifting technique is a simple and safe technique that involves lifting the clavicles with a pediatric extension retractor (Kent Retractor Set, Takasago Medical Industry, Tokyo, Japan). This is a good choice for surgery on upper mediastinal lesions such as mediastinal goiters as it obviates the need for a median sternotomy. CONCLUSION: Although further study is necessary, it appears that a transcervical approach using the clavicle-lifting technique may be an acceptable treatment for mediastinal goiters that extend to the aortic arch.