Goiter Learning Center

Any topic related to the thyroid gland is always extremely popular on Healthline.com. This small butterfly shaped gland in the throat area quietly does its job as part of our endocrine system and we never really think about it - until we have a problem. It doesn't take long for a person with a thyroid problem to realize just how important the thyroid gland is to every single body function. A nodule, growth or enlargement in the throat area is bound to be frightening to anyone who finds one. The first thought that would cross your mind is likely to be - is this cancer? Consult your doctor immediately to evaluate any abnormality, seek a second opinion if you are still worried. But with goiter, the news may not be as bad as you fear.

Goiter is simply an enlargement of the thyroid gland and is not a malignancy. But it is a sign of other problems because it is seen as an adaptive response of the thyroid gland to anything that impairs the synthesis of thyroid hormone. The Goiter Learning Center Symptoms section tells you what to look for if you suspect you have a goiter. Goiter is often a sign of another condition, such as Hashimoto's or Grave's Disease or iodine insufficiency. The Goiter Learning Center's Drug section provides information about medications used to treat goiter. The Supplements section offers more information. Goiters can be diffuse - that is, the entire gland is enlarged, or nodular - meaning that small growths have developed on the gland. Goiter is much more common in females than males - the Goiter Learning Channel Risk Factors section provides more information. Scientists suspect that repeated pregnancies may be a factor in the increased incidence in thyroid disorders in women as they mature.

Your doctor may refer you to a specialist for further evaluation. The Goiter Learning Center will guide you through the tests that you can anticipate having to evaluate a goiter. The Tests section helps you understand what the results of your diagnostic studies mean if you don't understand everything your doctor tells you. When a goiter is so large that it interferes with breathing or swallowing, it is time to see a surgeon. See the Goiter Learning Center's Treatment section for more information about thyroidectomy.

Goiter is a cosmetic concern for some people. The Goiter Learning Center's Multimedia Images section provides some idea of why that may be.