What is a Goiter?

A goiter is simply an enlarged thyroid gland. It can be smooth (diffuse) or lumpy (nodular). It is not a specific disease itself but a sign of an underlying problem.

What causes it?

• Iodine Deficiency: The most common cause worldwide (less common in developed countries due to iodized salt).
• Hashimoto's or Graves' Disease: Autoimmune stimulation causes the gland to grow.
• Multinodular Goiter: Multiple benign lumps growing over time, often due to aging and genetics.

Does it need to be removed?

Not always. Treatment depends on Size and Function.

• Watch & Wait: If the goiter is small, not cancerous, and your hormone levels are normal, no treatment is needed.
• Surgery: Recommended if the goiter is growing large enough to compress your windpipe (causing difficulty breathing) or esophagus (difficulty swallowing), or if it is cosmetically bothersome.
• Radioactive Iodine: Can shrink the goiter in some cases.

Will it turn into cancer?

A goiter itself is not cancer. However, doctors will investigate any dominant nodules within a goiter to rule out malignancy.