What are the main causes of goiter?
The most common cause of a goiter worldwide is a lack of iodine in the diet. In the United States, where iodized salt is readily available, goiters may be a result of the over- or underproduction of the thyroid hormone or the presence of nodules in the thyroid itself.
What is the difference between goiter and thyroid?
An enlarged thyroid gland can be felt as a lump under the skin at the front of the neck. When it is large enough to see easily, it’s called a goiter. A thyroid nodule is a lump or enlarged area in the thyroid gland.
Can a goiter be cancerous?
Goiter can be the result of thyroid tumors, which are usually benign, but sometimes malignant. Most thyroid tumors present as discrete nodules, but there are several kinds of thyroid cancer that can cause generalized swelling of the gland.
How is a goiter treated?
Medications for goiters may include one of the following: For increasing hormone production. An underactive thyroid is treated with a thyroid hormone replacement. The drug levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Thyquidity, others) replaces T-4 and results in the pituitary gland releasing less TSH .
What does Thyromegaly mean?
Thyromegaly is a disorder in which the thyroid gland — the butterfly-shaped gland in the neck — becomes abnormally enlarged. Thyromegaly is more commonly known as a goiter. It’s most often caused by insufficient iodine in the diet, but it can also result from other conditions.
What happens if a goiter is left untreated?
Goiter can cause cosmetic concerns and affect breathing and swallowing. Cardiac (heart) problems: Hypothyroidism increases the risk of heart disease, causes irregular heart rate and heart failure.
How do you treat nodular goiter?
Radioactive Iodine This treatment is mainly used to shrink a goiter or nodule that causes the thyroid to produce too much thyroid hormone. The iodine is given as a capsule or liquid. Once swallowed, it concentrates in the thyroid and destroys some or all of the thyroid tissue, without harming other tissues.
At what size should a goiter be removed?
Although the fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is still the gold standard workup for thyroid nodules, its accuracy declines as the size of the goiter increases. Therefore, once the goiter or the nodule is larger than 4cm, surgery is generally recommended.
Is Thyromegaly serious?
It’s possible to have thyromegaly and not even know it. Small goiters that don’t cause problems aren’t a concern at first, but the goiter could grow larger in the future, or start producing too much or too little thyroid hormone. Most causes of thyromegaly are treatable.
Do goiters go away?
A simple goiter may disappear on its own, or may become larger. Over time, the thyroid gland may stop making enough thyroid hormone. This condition is called hypothyroidism.