‘Goitre’ is derived from the Latin word ‘gutter’ meaning throat and merely refers to an enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre may be diffuse, due to a single nodule or multinodular. It can also be associated with an excess of thyroid hormone, otherwise known as hyperthyroidism.
Goitre is quite common in the Australian population and in some regions of the world is endemic. There are numerous reasons why goitres evolve and this may relate to diet (eg. iodine definciency or excess intake of the brassica family of vegetables), medication or genetic drivers of disease. For most people however, there is no clear cause.
Regardless of the cause and the pattern of disease, the natural history is one of growth over time. If left unchecked, this can lead to all sorts of symptoms. The majority of them are what we call “compressive” symptoms, such as a pressure sensation in the neck, trouble swallowing, shortness of breath or even voice disturbance. Occasionally, even the cosmetic appearance is disturbing for the patient.
Unfortunately, there are no easy ways to reduce the size of an enlarged thyroid and this is where surgery warrants consideration. Surgical removal of the thyroid gland can rid the patient of the large compressive gland and cure the associated symptoms. This does however come with some risks and if you are contemplating surgery, you should speak with your ANZES recognised endocrine surgeon.
