Thyroid Goiter Basics

What They Look Like and How to Treat Them

This slideshow covers the basics of thyroid goiters—an enlargement of the thyroid gland. Some goiters can become so large that you can easily see them when you turn to the side. But are they typically benign? And who gets goiters, and how do you treat them?

Prev Next Slide 3 of 6

The Main Causes of Thyroid Goiters

Iodine Deficiency and Autoimmune Disorders

Worldwide, the most common cause of thyroid goiter is iodine deficiency, but in the US, that's pretty rare because there's iodine in our drinking water and some of the foods we eat, such as table salt. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease—2 autoimmune disorders—are much more common causes of thyroid goiters in the US. Thyroid nodules can also cause goiters.

Written by Melissa Li-Ng MD

View Sources

Source

Goiter. American Thyroid Association Web site. http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/goiter.html. Accessed June 28, 2011.

Related Discussions

Test result meaning? What? 0 comments
Enlarged thyroid, throat tightness and throat spasm 0 comments
RAI vs Surgery 1 comment - last was 28 weeks 16 hours ago

This information is not designed to replace a physician's independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. Always consult your doctor about your medical conditions. Vertical Health & EndocrineWeb do not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use of this website is conditional upon your acceptance of our user agreement.