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Thyroid Goitre

Thyroid Goitre

A thyroid goiter, also spelled goitre, is not a respiratory condition itself, but it can affect your breathing in some cases. It’s an enlargement of the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your throat. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate your metabolism, heart rate, and body temperature.

 

Types of Goiters

  • Simple (diffuse) goiter: This is a smooth enlargement of the entire thyroid gland.
  • Nodular goiter: This type develops one or more lumps (nodules) within the thyroid gland. It can be further classified as:
      • Multinodular goiter: When there are multiple nodules.
      • Solitary nodule goiter: When there’s a single nodule.

Causes

    • Iodine deficiency: The most common cause worldwide, but less frequent in developed countries due to iodized salt.
    • Autoimmune diseases: Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis can cause goiter.
    • Inflammation (thyroiditis)
    • Pregnancy (temporary)
    • Genetics
    • Certain medications

 

Symptoms

    • Visible lump or swelling in the neck (most common)
    • Tightness in the throat
    • Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
    • Difficulty breathing (dyspnea), especially when lying down
    • Hoarseness
    • Cough

 

Diagnosis

    • Physical examination by a doctor
    • Blood tests to check thyroid hormone levels
    • Thyroid ultrasound to examine the gland’s size and structure
    • Radioactive iodine uptake test (rarely)

 

Treatment

    • Watch and wait: Small goiters without symptoms often don’t require treatment.
    • Medication:
      • Levothyroxine (Synthroid) for an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
      • Antithyroid medications for an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
      • Medications to shrink the goiter (rarely used).
    • Radioiodine therapy: A radioactive iodine capsule is taken to destroy some thyroid tissue.
    • Minimally Invasive Procedure: Radiofrequency ablation can be used to treat benign thyroid goitres wihout surgery (Click here to read more on Radio frequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules/ goitre).
    • Surgery: To remove part or all of the thyroid gland in severe cases or if there’s concern about a nodule being cancerous.

 

Complications

  • Large goiters can compress nearby structures in the neck, leading to breathing and swallowing difficulties.
  • Goiter can be associated with an underactive or overactive thyroid gland.