Knowra Goiter Goiter A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. It can occur with iodine deficiency, thyroid hormone disorders, inflammation, or other thyroid conditions.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone : A pituitary hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to produce and release thyroid hormones. Persistently increased stimulation can promote thyroid growth, especially when hormone production is impaired.
Endemic goiter : Thyroid enlargement occurring frequently within a population, historically often because of low iodine intake. It is the population-level pattern most directly associated with iodine deficiency.
Thyroid function tests : Blood tests, chiefly TSH and thyroid hormone measurements, used to assess thyroid activity. They help determine whether a goiter accompanies underactive, overactive, or normal thyroid function.
Tracheal compression : Narrowing or displacement of the trachea caused by pressure from nearby tissue. A large goiter can compress the windpipe and impair breathing.
Iodine deficiency : A shortage of iodine, an essential element used to make thyroid hormones. When iodine is scarce, the thyroid may enlarge as it struggles to maintain hormone production.
Multinodular goiter : An enlarged thyroid containing multiple nodules. This common structural pattern can develop over time in an enlarged gland.
Thyroid ultrasonography : Imaging that uses sound waves to show the thyroid's size, structure, and nodules. Ultrasound characterizes enlargement and identifies nodules without using ionizing radiation.
Dysphagia : Difficulty swallowing food or liquid. Pressure from an enlarged thyroid can interfere with swallowing.
Thyroid hormone : Hormones made by the thyroid gland that regulate metabolism, growth, and development. Goiter may accompany either insufficient or excessive thyroid hormone production.
Graves' disease : An autoimmune disorder in which antibodies stimulate the thyroid, often causing hyperthyroidism. It can produce a diffuse goiter alongside excessive thyroid hormone production.
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