Understanding Goiter -- The Basics
What Are Goiters? Goiters can be any one of several types of growths in the thyroid gland, located at the base of the front side of the neck just below the Adam's apple. In the case of Graves' disease , the entire thyroid gland becomes enlarged. Another type, called toxic nodular goiter , results when one or more nodules, or adenomas, develop in the thyroid and trigger excess production of thyroid hormone. In short, a goiter is any enlargement of the thyroid gland. A goiter may be a temporary problem that will remedy itself over time without medical intervention, or a symptom of another, possibly severe, thyroid condition that requires medical attention. What Causes a Goiter? Goiters can occur when the thyroid gland produces either too much thyroid hormone ( hyperthyroidism ) or not enough ( hypothyroidism ). Much more rarely, the problem may arise when the pituitary gland stimulates thyroid growth to bo...