Aim: studying the frequency of tracheal compression and symptoms of chronic hypoxia in the structure of benign thyroid pathology requiring surgical treatment, as well as an assessment of comorbid pathology nature and the results of surgical treatment. Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the results of surgical treatment for benign thyroid diseases was carried out in 100 patients. Results. Toxic goiter (74%), tracheal compression (69%) dominated the structure of benign thyroid diseases. Arterial hypertension prevailed in trachea compression cases with statistical significance (2, p0.01). Wheezing inspiration/expiration and the increase in respiration frequency were determined by the trachea stenosis at the level of the thyroid gland to 10 mm or less in 10 patients (10%) with a statistically significant prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (2, p0.01). Thyroidectomy was the most common surgical intervention (80%). There was no statistically significant increase in surgical complications depending on the severity of tracheal compression, age, and concomitant pathology. There were no fatal outcomes. Conclusion. Surgical treatment for benign thyroid pathology complicated by neck compression is necessary and safe regardless of age and associated diseases.

We present a case of a 62-year-old patient with multinodular substernal goiter and tracheal compression (up to 5 mm). The multinodular goiter was initially diagnosed 3 years before by a local endocrinologist. The patient had been suffering from difficulty of breathing and exertional dyspnea for two years. He consulted specialists in therapy, pulmonology, cardiology more than once. However, none of the clinicians was able to identify the cause of labored respiration. Eventually an endocrine surgeon diagnosed a case of the complicated multinodular goiter with the development of cervical compression syndrome and tracheal narrowing.Ultrasound study showed the diffuse enlargement of the thyroid gland mainly due to the large left lobe with a total volume of 132,5 cm3. Computed tomography showed the shift of trachea to the right because of its compression by the left lobe and the luminal narrowing up to 5 mm. The patient needed surgical intervention by life-saving indications. He underwent thyroidectomy. The postoperative period was uneventful, the patient did not complain about labored respiration and reported the improvement of physical activity. It is important to keep in mind that patients with multinodular goiter have the potential risk of developing cervical compression syndrome. Current case demonstrates that such patients should be examined by an endocrine surgeon as early as possible in order to perform timely elective surgery.