A (or '''goiter''') (
Latin ''struma'') is a swelling in the neck (just below adam's apple or
Larynx ) due to an enlarged
Thyroid Gland . They are classified in different ways:
- A "diffuse goitre" is a goitre that has spread through all of the thyroid (and is contrasted with a "simple goitre", "single thyroid nodule" and "multinodular goitre".
- "Toxic goitre" refers to goitre deriving from Inflammation , Neoplasm , or malfunction of the Thyroid , while "nontoxic goitre" refers to all other types (such as that caused by Lithium or an Autoimmune reaction.)
The most common cause for goitre in the world is
Iodine deficiency (E01). Other causes are:
Iodine is necessary for the synthesis of the thyroid
Hormone s
Triiodothyronine and
Thyroxine (T3 and T4). When iodine is not available, these hormones cannot be made. In response to low thyroid hormones, the
Pituitary Gland releases
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). Thyroid stimulating hormone acts to try and increase synthesis of T3 and T4, but it also causes the thyroid gland to grow in size as a type of compensation.
Goitre is more common among women. Treatment may not be necessary if the goitre is not caused by disease and is small. Removal of the goitre may be necessary if it causes difficulty with breathing or swallowing. But removal of certain types of goitre mentioned above will result in removing the thyroid as well. The removal of the thryroid will eventually harm an individuals body by not enabling the body to produce TH.
Goitre was previously common in many areas that were deficient in iodine in the
Soil . For example, in the
English Midlands , the condition was known as . In the
United States , goiter was found in the
Great Lakes ,
Midwest , and Intermountain regions. The condition now is practically absent in affluent nations, where
Table Salt is
Supplemented With Iodine . However, it is still prevalent in
Central Asia and
Central Africa .
Some health workers fear that a resurgence of goiter might occur because of the trend to use
Rock Salt and/or
Sea Salt , which has not been fortified with iodine.
