Explore Over 11,000+ Conditions, Medications, and Symptoms.

Get a personalized feed by signing up for free.

Goiter

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Goitre

General

The term Goiter refers to a swelling of the neck caused by an enlarged thyroid gland The Thyroid is a gland located at the middle of your neck, below Adam’s apple. It produces a hormone called Thyroid Hormone. Goiter can manifest with a high, low or normal functioning Thyroid. Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of Goiter world-wide. In iodine-rich countries (like the united states) the most common causes are auto-immune, inflammatory, or unknown.

52 people with Goiter

Learn from others who are experiencing Goiter.

statistic

Signs & symptoms

most often Goiter appears without any signs or symptoms. You may sometimes feel a swelling at the middle of the neck. You may experience symptoms resulting from the enlargement of the thyroid gland- difficulty swallowing or breathing, coughing or hoarseness.

Diagnosis

*Physical exam*: your doctor will exam your thyroid gland and ask you about sign of overactive or underactive thyroid gland such as excessive sweating, hair loss, weight gain or loss and rapid heartbeat. *Blood tests*: Thyroid function tests- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), T3 and T4 (thyroid hormone) *Ultrasound* of your gland *Thyroid scan*: usually when the thyroid is hyperactive.

Treatment

The treatment may include: - *Watchful waiting*- if your thyroid function is normal and you can breathe and eat normally. - *Medication* to balance the thyroid function and to treat the underlying cause if possible - *Surgery* if the swelling interferes with your breathing or swallowing - *Radioactive iodine*- you will swallow a pill that contains radioactive iodine that will travel to your thyroid and destroy it. Many Goiters will disappear with treatment, other may evolve over time and will need further evaluation.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Alike Wisdom

Instantly get answers to medical questions with our AI, built from the collective wisdom of our community facing similar experiences

pp-logo

Alike is a transformative platform that goes beyond just bringing together patients; it meticulously connects individuals based on multiple critical factors, such as age, gender, comorbidities, medications, diet, and more, fostering a community of knowledge, support and empathy.

appStoreBtngooglePlayBtn

© 2020-2024 Alike, Inc