Thyroid Goitre

What is a goitre?

A goitre is the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, which sits in front of the neck. This can cause an unsightly swelling in the neck, but also problems arising from compression of nearby structures.

Common symptoms of a thyroid goitre can include:

• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath

• Trouble swallowing

• Hyperthyroidism

• Cosmetic issues

What causes goitre?

There are a number of causes, with the majority of goitres being benign in nature. This stems from lifelong inadequate dietary intake of iodine or iodine-containing foods. Unfortunately, increasing the dietary intake of iodine will not cause the goitre to shrink appreciably. 

Causes of goitre include:

• Diffuse goitre

• Multinodular goitre

• Graves disease

• Thyroid nodules

• Cancer