What Is a Goiter?

A goiter is typically painless, but a large one can make swallowing or breathing difficult.

A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is a butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of your neck.

The thyroid gland releases hormones that help control your metabolism and other important processes in your body.

Having a goiter doesn't always mean that your thyroid gland is malfunctioning. Even when your thyroid gland is enlarged, it can produce a normal amount of hormones.

You can develop a goiter if your thyroid gland is producing too much of its hormones (hyperthyroidism), too little (hypothyroidism), or a normal amount of hormones (euthyroidism).

Goiter Symptoms

Symptoms of a goiter may include:

• Swelling at the base of the neck
• A tight feeling in the throat
• Hoarseness
• Coughing
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness when the arms are raised above the head
• Neck vein swelling

Sometimes goiters don't cause any symptoms at all.

Goiter Risk Factors

You have a higher risk of developing a goiter if you:

• Are a woman
• Have a family history ofautoimmune diseases
• 年龄超过40岁
• Smoke cigarettes
• Have ever received radiation therapy in your neck or chest area
• Are pregnant or going through menopause
• Take certain medicines, including immunosuppressants, antiretrovirals, the heart drugs Cordarone or Pacerone (amiodarone), or the psychiatric drug Lithobid (lithium)

Goiter Causes

Common causes of goiters include:

Iodine deficiency:The mineral iodine is needed for the production ofthyroid hormones.

Worldwide,iodine deficiencyis the most common cause of goiters. But this problem isn’t as common in the United States, where iodized salt is frequently used.

Graves' disease:In this condition, your immune system mistakenly attacks your thyroid gland, causing it to produce too much of its hormones. This can cause your thyroid gland to swell.

桥本's thyroiditis:This autoimmune disease damages your thyroid, causing it to produce too little of its hormones. This can also result in a goiter.

Thyroid cancer:Cancer of the thyroid gland can enlarge the organ.

Pregnancy:During pregnancy, women produce hormones that can cause the thyroid gland to grow.

Thyroiditis:This condition causes inflammation of the thyroid gland, which can cause it to enlarge.

Goiter Diagnosis

To diagnose a goiter, your doctor may simply feel your neck and ask you to swallow while monitoring your response.

其他诊断甲状腺肿的方法包括:

Hormone test:Measuring certain hormone levels in ablood testcan reveal whether your thyroid gland is working properly.

Antibody test:This blood test measures abnormal antibodies that are produced if you have a predisposition to autoimmune thyroid disease.

Ultrasound:This imaging test lets your doctor see the size of your thyroid gland and determine whether it contains any nodules (which can change the levels of hormones it produces).

Thyroid scan:This imaging test provides information about the size and function of your thyroid gland.

MRI or CT scan:These imaging tests may be used if your goiter is very large or has spread into the chest.

Biopsy:This procedure involves inserting a needle into your thyroid gland to obtain a tissue or fluid sample, which is then examined under a microscope or subjected to other tests.

Goiter Treatment

Treatment for your goiter will depend on its size, its causes, and your symptoms.

Your doctor may decide not to treat your goiter at all if it's small and doesn't bother you. In this situation, your doctor will probably keep a close eye on your condition in case the goiter grows or changes.

If you do need treatment, your options may include:

Medications: Your doctor may tell you to takeaspirinor may prescribe acorticosteroidif you have inflammation of the thyroid gland.

If you have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), you may need to take Levothroid or Synthroid (levothyroxine) to replace the hormones you're lacking.

If you have hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), you may need to take drugs to bring yourthyroid hormonelevels back to normal.

Surgery: Your doctor may recommendthyroidectomy, a surgical procedure to remove all or part of your thyroid gland.

Surgery is often recommended if your goiter is very large, if it causes difficulty breathing or swallowing, or if your thyroid is overactive.

Radioactive iodine: This treatment, taken by mouth, can shrink the size of your goiter.