Ectopic goiters of the mediastinum: presentation of two cases and review of the literature.

Two cases of ectopic goiters located in the anterior mediastinum are presented. These comprise 5.1 per cent of our cases of intrathoracic goiters and 1.3 per cent of mediastinal tumors. These benign tumors have been rarely reported in the literatures, however, excision by thoracotomy is the surgical procedure advocated for these cases and the diagnosis is generally established operatively. Angiography and tomography have proved useful in diagnosing and localising these lesions prior to the surgical procedure.