Substernal goiter with superior vena caval obstruction.

Substernal goiter with vena caval obstruction remains an interesting diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Since 85 to 90 percent of superior vena caval obstructions are due to a malignant disease, an intrathoracic goiter represents one of the benign, curable causes of this syndrome. This report describes the clinical course of a 44-year-old woman who presented with this entity and was successfully corrected by surgical intervention. A discussion of diagnostic, operative, and prognostic considerations is presented.