Goitre overview
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Goitre Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Goitre overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Goitre overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
A goitre (BrE), or goiter (AmE) (Latin struma), also called a bronchocele, is a swelling in the neck (just below Adam's apple or larynx) due to an enlarged thyroid gland. The most common cause is a lack of iodine in the diet. It also can be caused by many other diseases such as Graves' disease, Hashimoto's disease and thyroid cancer. Usual signs and symptoms include a visible swelling at the base of your neck, a tight feeling in your throat, cough, hoarseness and shortness of breath. Blood tests of thyroid gland hormone level, ultrasonography and thyroid gland scans may be helpful for the diagnosis. Treatment of goitre depends on the cause and the size of the lump. The cause of goitre determines the outcome.