Mediastinal goitre

[Cazza83]

Hi all!

I'm new to this forum and wondered if anyone could advise on mediastinal goitres? I went to the nurse as I'd had a cough for afew months and told her as well that I had a swelling on the left side of my neck that was obvious when I coughed....I'd actually noticed this a couple of years ago but I thought it was just a swollen gland. She didn't examine it, she just said she could see it...gave me antibiotics for a suspected infection, and referred me for chest xray. I also had blood tests done to check thyroid, came back normal but my chest xray showed a mass on left side of neck. Notes said suspected goitre, clinical?? Not sure what that means?

The doctor referred me for ultra sound which I'm waiting on, and has written suggested mediastinal goiter on my referral sheet. It's now a waiting game! The nurse didn't even know what a goiter was lol. I'm just wondering now if o will need it removing and how sure they can be that it is a goiter from a chest xray

Thanks, caz

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

You might find this link of interest with respect to x-rays:

radiopaedia.org/articles/su...

It is quite rare. You might find all sorts of different terms used: substernal, retrosternal, etc.

[Cazza83 in reply to helvella]

Thanks helvella, that link is really interesting. I haven't had much information and I've been told there is at least a 6-8 week wait for a ultra sound. I wasn't sure if I should go private with it potentially pushing into my chest, or just wait for the ultra sound on the NHS

Thanks 😁

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Cazza83]

I tried to find some useful information for you but everything seemed to be heavyweight stuff - difficult to understand and impossible to interpret to your personal situation.

From what I have read, the main issue is their physical presence and location.

[Cazza83 in reply to helvella]

Thanks so much. I've had the same experience. All I can find are detailed case studies, and not much else! I wouldn't mind the wait for the ultra sound if I knew more about it, all I've read is that the majority of the time they need to be removed because of location regardless of symptoms present. I've decided to have a private consultation as I haven't had anyone actually physically examine my neck or go through the chest xray results with me

Thanks again!

[Hidden in reply to Cazza83]

I would not waste your money I spent a lot on private investigations and got nowhere.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Cazza83]

A modest summary: endocrinesurgeon.co.uk/inde...

[Hidden]

They will have a good view with an ultra sound if I were you I would wait for that result. Have you had any blood tests done for the thyroid.

[Cazza83 in reply to Hidden]

Yes definitely! It might not even be mediastinal and hopefully it can just be left. Yes had blood tests done, TFT normal, neutrophils slightly low at 1.7

[Hidden in reply to Cazza83]

It probably isn't anyway, these goiters are very rare and only 1% of cases. My thyroid nodule was growing downwards and my thyroid was also working normally. Suddenly when out for a walk I couldn't breath my trachea had moved due to the lump.

If yours is causing a cough and you can see it with no other symptoms they may just leave it and wait.

[Cazza83 in reply to Hidden]

I'd be surprised if it was that type of goitre, from what I've read online, just wasnt expecting the gp to write it on my USS referral based on my chest xray

Once I've had the ultrasound I'm sure it'll be much clearer!!

Ohh that sounds nasty with yours hope you are better

Hopefully I can just have mine monitored

[Hidden in reply to Cazza83]

Yes I am fine after my TT three years ago, now on NDT.