In the United States, where the use of iodized salt is common, goiters are caused by conditions that change thyroid function or factors that affect thyroid growth. Treatment depends on the cause of the goiter, symptoms, and complications resulting from the goiter.
Small goiters that aren't noticeable and don't cause problems usually don't need treatment. Most people with goiters have no signs or symptoms other than a swelling at the base of the neck. In many cases, the goiter is small enough that it's only discovered during a routine medical exam or an imaging test for another condition.
Other signs or symptoms depend on whether thyroid function changes, how quickly the goiter grows and whether it obstructs breathing.
The size or position of a goiter may obstruct the airway and voice box. Signs and symptoms may include:. The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus are located within the brain and control hormone production. Two hormones produced by the thyroid are thyroxine T-4 and triiodothyronine T When the thyroid releases T-4 and T-3 into the bloodstream, they play a role in many functions in the body, including the regulation of:.
The thyroid gland also produces calcitonin, a hormone that helps regulate the amount of calcium in the blood. The pituitary gland and hypothalamus control the rate at which T-4 and T-3 are produced and released. The hypothalamus is a specialized region at the base of the brain. It acts as a thermostat for maintaining balance in multiple body systems. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to make a hormone known as thyroid-stimulating hormone TSH.
The pituitary gland — located below the hypothalamus — releases a certain amount of TSH , depending on how much T-4 and T-3 are in the blood. The thyroid gland, in turn, regulates its production of hormones based on the amount of TSH it receives from the pituitary gland. Enlargement of the thyroid can expand the gland well beyond its typical size and cause a noticeable bulge in the neck.
These do not involve inflammation or any detriment to thyroid function, produce no symptoms, and often have no obvious cause. Some people experience a small amount of swelling. Others can have considerable swelling that constricts the trachea and causes breathing problems.
An enlarged thyroid does not necessarily mean that the thyroid gland is working incorrectly. A person with a goiter may have a thyroid gland that is:. Goiters are more common in females than males, especially after menopause. Goiters and thyroid disease are generally more common after the age of In most cases, the only symptom of a goiter is a swelling in the neck. The swelling may be large enough to feel with the hand. The degree of swelling and the severity of symptoms produced by the goiter depend on the individual.
The most common cause of goiters outside the United States is a lack of iodine in the diet. The thyroid needs iodine to create thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism. A lack of iodine is uncommon in the U. As iodine is less commonly found in plants, vegan diets may lack sufficient iodine.
This is less of a problem for vegans who live in countries where manufacturers add iodine to salt. Hypothyroidism is the result of an underactive thyroid gland. When the gland produces too little thyroid hormone, it is stimulated to produce more, leading to swelling.
Hyperthyroidism , or an overactive thyroid gland, is another cause of goiters. In the United States, where iodized salt is readily available, goiters may be a result of the over- or underproduction of the thyroid hormone or the presence of nodules in the thyroid itself. Johns Hopkins head and neck surgeons provide specialized care for thyroid and parathyroid conditions. As leaders in scarless neck surgery and radiofrequency ablation RFA for thyroid nodules, our experts work with you to customize a treatment plan to help you feel your best.
Health Home Conditions and Diseases. Is a goiter dangerous? Goiters are relatively common. Breadcrumb site navigation Treatment offers Thyroid enlargement. Clinical picture Treatment methods Specialised hospitals. Thyroid enlargement. Back to a normal hormone balance In Germany, which is one of the countries with a low iodine content, thyroid gland enlargement also known as struma or goitre is quite common. Women are affected about four times more often than men.
A struma usually develops between the 20th and the 40th year of life. At Schoen Clinic, we specialise in thyroid diseases. We offer you various therapeutic methods to cure your disease. What is thyroid enlargement? The thyroid gland is located on the front of the neck under the larynx and next to the trachea and oesophagus.
0コメント