Concept and Etiology: A goiter is the irregular growth of the thyroid
gland. c Goiter disease affects the endocrine and neural body systems
because when the body has hypothyroidism, the body makes too little
of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, which control a person's
metabolism. Hereditary factors may cause goiters. Risk factors for the
development of a goiter include female sex, age over 40 years,
inadequate dietary intake of iodine, residence in an endemic area, and
a family history of goiter. It deviates from the definition of health
discussed in Module One because goiter can change a person's
overall state of physical, mental, and social well-being, because the
disease can cause a person to be fatigued, irritable, and sleeping
disorders and lack sleep can really change a person's health and
attitude.
Classification: A simple goiter may be classified as either an endemic
(colloid) goiter or a sporadic (nontoxic) goiter.
Clinical Manifestations (Signs and Symptoms):
The main and most obvious sign of goiter is a swelling and lumps or
nodules at the base of the neck.
The main symptoms of goiter include:
• Swelling in the front of the neck, just below the Adam's apple
• A feeling of tightness in the throat area
• Hoarseness (scratchy voice)
• Neck vein swelling
• Dizziness when the arms are raised above the head
Other less common symptoms may include:
• Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)
• Coughing
• Wheezing (due to squeezing of the windpipe)
• Difficulty swallowing
Some people who have a goiter may also have hyperthyroidism or
overactive thyroid. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include:
• An increased resting pulse rate
• Rapid heartbeat
• Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
• Sweating without exercise or increased room temperature
• Shaking
• Agitation
Diagnostic Tests: Several tests can be used to diagnose and evaluate
goiter, including:
• Physical exam: Your doctor may be able to tell if the thyroid
gland has grown by feeling the neck area for nodules and signs
of tenderness.
• Hormone test: This blood test measures thyroid hormone
levels, which tell if the thyroid is working properly.
• Antibody test: This blood test looks for certain antibodies that
are produced in some forms of goiter
• Ultrasound of the thyroid: Ultrasound of the thyroid reveals the
gland's size and finds any nodules.
• Thyroid scan: This imaging test provides information on the size
and function of the gland. A small amount of radioactive
material is injected into a vein to produce an image of the
thyroid on a computer screen.
• CT scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) of the thyroid: If
the goiter is very large or spreads into the chest, a CT scan or
MRI is used to measure the size and spread of the goiter.
References
Goiter: Causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis & treatment. Cleveland
Clinic. (2019, February 5). Retrieved November 18, 2021, from
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12625-goiter.
Thyroid goiter. UCLA Endocrine Center. (n.d.). Retrieved November
18, 2021, from https://www.uclahealth.org/endocrine-
center/thyroid-goiter.
