Can a goiter cause problems?

Can a goiter cause problems?

Small goiters that don’t cause physical or cosmetic problems aren’t a concern. But large goiters can make it hard to breathe or swallow and can cause a cough and hoarseness.

How goiter affect your life?

If your goiter is making your thyroid underactive or overactive, you may also have a wide range of symptoms, from fatigue and weight gain to involuntary weight loss, irritability, and sleep disorders.

Is goiter a life threatening condition?

A goiter is typically not dangerous, unless the underlying cause of thyroid enlargement is a thyroid cancer. It is important to identify the cause of the goiter to rule out cancer.

Can a goiter be cancerous?

Goiter can be the result of thyroid tumors, which are usually benign, but sometimes malignant. Most thyroid tumors present as discrete nodules, but there are several kinds of thyroid cancer that can cause generalized swelling of the gland.

Can a goiter cause death?

Most goiters are benign, causing only cosmetic disfigurement. Morbidity or mortality may result from compression of surrounding structures, thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism.

Which organ is affected by goiter?

A goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, which is a butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of your neck. The thyroid gland releases hormones that help control your metabolism and other important processes in your body. Having a goiter doesn’t always mean that your thyroid gland is malfunctioning.

What is the best medicine for goiter?

Levothyroxine (Levothroid®, Synthroid®) is a thyroid hormone replacement therapy. It is prescribed if the cause of the goiter is an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). Other medications are prescribed if the cause of the goiter is an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).

Should goiters be removed?

For the vast majority of patients, surgical removal of a goiter for fear of cancer is not warranted. Another reason (although not a very common one) to remove a goiter is for cosmetic reasons. Often, a goiter gets large enough that it can be seen as a mass in the neck.

What percentage of goiters are cancerous?

While most thyroid nodules are non-cancerous (Benign), ~5% are cancerous.