Residual Retrosternal Goiter and Thymolipoma After Cervical Thyroid Resection

Retrosternal goiters (RGs) are thyroid enlargements that extend into the mediastinum, representing 1%-20% of all goiters. While typically benign, their anatomical location can lead to significant clinical symptoms due to the compression of surrounding structures such as the trachea, esophagus, and major vessels. Surgical resection is the preferred treatment, particularly in symptomatic cases or when malignancy is suspected. In rare cases, RGs may co-occur with other mediastinal tumors, such as thymolipomas, complicating both diagnosis and management. We present a 39-year-old female with a residual retrosternal goiter after previous insufficient resection only of the cervical thyroid mass, leaving the mediastinal part in place. The patient underwent a total median sternotomy, and the retrosternal goiter, along with a concomitant thymolipoma, was successfully extirpated. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the patient remains in excellent condition at a seven-month follow-up.