KIMS Kondapur doctors remove massive goiter pressing chest in high-risk surgery

Hyderabad: In an extraordinary feat of surgical expertise and multidisciplinary coordination, doctors at KIMS Hospital, Kondapur, have successfully removed a rare and massive retrosternal goiter from a 35-year-old woman in a high-risk surgery that lasted over seven hours.

According to Consultant Thoracic Surgeon Dr Rohan Reddy, the patient had been experiencing moderate chest pain and occasional difficulty in breathing when she initially visited a local hospital.

Imaging revealed a large mass occupying a significant portion of the right upper chest cavity. She was subsequently referred to KIMS-Kondapur after a biopsy indicated the mass resembled thyroid tissue.

A long-standing thyroid swelling

Further evaluation at KIMS revealed a long-standing thyroid swelling that had extended from the neck deep into the chest cavity, compressing the right lung, heart and major blood vessels a classic case of massive retrosternal goiter. Clinical examination also showed swelling of the right arm and visible prominent veins on the chest, indicative of Superior Vena Cava (SVC) Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition caused by venous congestion.

After a thorough multidisciplinary discussion, the patient and her family were counselled about the complex nature and high risks of the required surgery. In a gruelling task, the surgical team performed a sternotomy (vertical splitting of the breastbone) combined with a right anterior thoracotomy, lifting the chest wall in a ‘clam-shell’ like approach to access the mass.

The large tumour, measuring over 15 cm, was found tightly pressing on the upper right lung, heart, and right brachiocephalic vein. Thanks to the precision and perseverance of the surgical team, the entire mass was successfully excised, restoring normal blood flow and relieving the compressive symptoms.

Post-surgery, the patient made an impressive recovery, aided by continuous monitoring and rehabilitation support, and was discharged safely within a week. the participating doctors’ team comprising Thoracic Surgeon Dr Rohan Reddy, Endocrine Surgeon Dr Ramya Vailveru, Cardiac surgeons Dr Nisarga and Dr Vineet, Vascular Surgeon Dr Venkatesh Bollineni and the anaesthesia team.

Need for early detection and expert intervention

“A massive retrosternal goiter is a rare and dangerous condition, often going unnoticed until it causes serious symptoms,” said the lead surgeon. “Complete excision is the definitive treatment, and we’re proud that our team had both the expertise and infrastructure to carry out such a challenging operation successfully.”

KIMS Hospitals continues to set benchmarks in complex surgeries and patient care through innovation, advanced technology, and team-based approaches. This case highlights the importance of early detection and expert intervention in managing rare but serious conditions like retrosternal goitres.