A goiter is a thyroid disorder characterized by an enlarged gland, forming a kind of lump in the neck, which becomes more rounded and wider than normal.
In general, the goiter can be easily observed without great difficulty, being able to be symmetrical, asymmetrical, consisting of a nodule or a set of them, in these cases called nodular or multinodular goiter.
- Goiter can have several causes.
- But it is common to occur when thyroid function problems occur.
- Such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.
- Or from the absence of iodine.
- So it is recommended to consult an endocrinologist as soon as possible.
- So that the diagnosis can be made.
- And proper treatment has begun.
The main symptom of goiter is an increase in thyroid volume, often visible. In addition, there may also be the development of other signs and symptoms, such as:
In addition, symptoms such as easy fatigue, depression, muscle or joint pain may indicate the presence of hypothyroidism, for example, they may also appear.
The diagnosis of goiter should be made by the endocrinologist or gpated physician through a series of tests, which determine the characteristics of the goiter and whether it is a benign or malignant goiter.
First, your doctor starts by looking at the presence of a lump in your neck, usually then requests an ultrasound or ultrasound that will allow for a better visualization of the thyroid gland. In addition, the diagnosis is also supplemented by specific blood tests that evaluate the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood, such as T4, T3 and TSH, which can be used to identify if there is any alteration in thyroid function.
In cases where your doctor suspects thyroid cancer, he or she will recommend a thyroid puncture or biopsy, in which a small piece of thyroid is removed. This test does not hurt or leave a scar and the small piece collected is smoothed in the lab.
Learn more about thyroid tests
The goiters can develop as a result of several changes, such as:
Goiter can also occur due to iodine deficiency, forcing the thyroid gland to work harder to capture the iodine needed for thyroid hormone synthesis. This hard work done by this gland leads to its increase in size and therefore to the appearance of a goiter. In addition, there are cases where goiter appears from birth, in these cases known as congenital goiter.
When goiter is caused by iodine deficiency, treatment is performed by administering iodine at doses 10 times higher than the recommended daily dose for a few weeks. With this treatment, the thyroid gland can effortlessly pick up the iodine it needs for hormone synthesis, which after a few weeks can return it to its normal size. However, in more severe cases, it may be necessary to maintain lifelong treatment.
In addition, when goiter is presented for iodine deficiency, it is recommended to eat foods rich in this mineral, such as iodized salt, salmon, tuna, eggs and milk, for example. See a list of iodine-rich foods.
In case of thyroid dysfunction such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, treatment is not linear and can be performed with drugs such as Tapazol or Puran T4 or with radioactive iodine capsules. In case of thyroid cancer, it may be necessary to remove this gland by surgery.