A lump in your neck could indicate a thyroid problem
Agoiteris an abnormally enlargedthyroid gland.
A normal thyroid gland is not visible from the outside.
When goiter symptoms are present, they can include:
Symptoms ofhypothyroidism or hyperthyroidismmay also accompany the goiter.
People with excessive thyroid function may experience anxiety, a fast heartbeat, and sweating.
People with low thyroid function may become depressed, gain weight, and often feel cold or fatigued.
What Causes Goiters?
Risk Factors
Some people are more at risk for goiter than others.
It is more common in females than in males.
It also is more common after age 40.
Can Medications Cause a Goiter?
Some medications can contribute to thyroid changes that can lead to a goiter.
Diagnosing a Goiter
Your doctor may detect a goiter visually or manually during a clinical examination.
In most cases, however, treatment is necessary and tailored to the underlying cause of the goiter.
A goiter indicates a problem affecting the thyroid and its function.
Once the underlying reason for a goiter is identified, your healthcare provider can treat the condition with medication.
In some cases, surgery or radioactive iodine may be needed.
A thyroid condition is treatable but it often requires lifelong medical care.
Talk with your healthcare provider about your goiter symptoms and what to expect with your diagnosis.
De Leo S, Lee SY, Braverman LE.Hyperthyroidism.Lancet.
2016;388(10047):906918. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00278-6
American Thyroid Association.Goiter.
Yale Medicine.Goiter Fact Sheet.
Bastien AJ, Ho AS.Surgical Management of Substernal Thyroid Goiters.Otolaryngol Clin North Am.
2024 Feb;57(1):39-52. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2023.07.008.
2015;8(7):11379-87.
2023 Apr;11(4):282-298. doi: 10.1016/S2213-8587(23)00005-0.
Sawin CT, Cooper DS.The Origin of Antithyroid Drugs.Thyroid.
2023 Dec;33(12):1395-1401. doi: 10.1089/thy.2022.0410.
Chaker L, Cooper DS, Walsh JP, Peeters RP.Hyperthyroidism.Lancet.
2024 Feb 24;403(10428):768-780. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)02016-0.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Office on Women’s Health.Thyroid Disease.
