What Is a Goitre?

Endocrine SurgeryThyroid Disease
Written By Rosette Sclavos

Goitre is a medical term that is used to describe the condition characterized by the ‘enlargement of the thyroid gland.

There are a variety of reasons why a thyroid gland may become enlarged, leading to this condition. The enlargement can present itself as smooth throughout, which is referred to as a diffuse goitre, or it may be nodular in nature, known as a nodular goitre.

Diffuse Goitres

  • Iodine deficiency (most common world wide)

  • Graves disease (autoimmune).

  • Acute thyroiditis (inflamed thyroid, including Hashimoto’s)

  • Goitrogen ingestion (foods that stimulate growth)

  • Lymphoma

  • Pituitary adenoma (tumour) secreting TSH

  • Amyloidosis

Nodular Goitres

  • Benign multi-nodular goitre (MNG)

  • Thyroid cancer

  • Thyroid adenoma (benign nodule)

 
 
Rosette Sclavos
Previous

What Is Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism?
Next

What Is the Thyroid and What Does It Do?