An obstructive retrosternal thyroid mass mimicking asthma

The term retrosternal/intrathoracic goiter was first defined by Haller in 1749. It is usually located in the anterior mediastinum. When it reaches large sizes, it can cause various pressure symptoms. Respiratory distress may occur due to tracheal compression, difficulty swallowing due to esophageal compression, and venous fullness findings may occur as a result of pressure on vascular structures. Although rare, it can be life-threatening; It may also cause respiratory failure, which may develop as a result of sudden growth that may occur secondary to intrathyroidal hemorrhage or cystic degeneration. In this case, we aimed to present a patient who experienced respiratory distress due to a thyroid mass extending retrosternally and causing tracheal compression, and whose complaints did not go away despite optimum asthma treatment.