Surgical Resection of Retrosternal Goitre: The Four-Finger Technique

Retrosternal goitre (RSG) is a thyroid gland with more than 50% of its mass located below the thoracic inlet. Pre-operative Computed Tomography can visualise the anatomical relations between the RSG and each mediastinal component, and the level of extension. Most cases of RSG can be resected via the cervical approach, as the thoracic approach carries a greater risk of complications. We describe a four finger technique for total thyroidectomy in five cases of RSG through a neck incision, without the need for a sternotomy. The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) was identified early in the Baehr’s triangle. The thyroid was mobilised in the neck by ligation of the feeding vessels and separated from the tracheal attachments. The retrosternal portion was then delivered into the neck by blunt dissection, keeping two fingers of each hand close to the thyroid gland. The RLN and parathyroids were identified early in the surgery to avoid the complications of hoarseness and hypoalcemia, respectively.