There are different kinds of goiters. A simple goiter can occur for no known reason, or when the thyroid gland is not able to produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body's needs. The thyroid gland makes up for this by becoming larger.
There are two types of simple goiter:
Endemic (colloid) goiter
Sporadic (nontoxic) goiter
Goiters occur in groups of people who live in areas with iodine-poor soil. These regions are usually away from the sea coast. People in these communities might not get enough iodine in their diet (iodine is needed to produce thyroid hormone).
The use of iodized table salt in the United States today prevents iodine deficiency. However, a lack of enough iodine is still common in central Asia, the Andes region of South America, and central Africa.
In most cases of sporadic goiter the cause is unknown. Occasionally, certain medications such as lithium or aminoglutethimide can cause a nontoxic goiter.
Inherited factors may cause goiters. Risk factors include:
Age over 40 years
Family history of goiter
Female gender
Living in an area where people do not get enough iodine
Not getting enough iodine in the diet
Symptoms
The main symptom is a swollen thyroid gland. The size may range from a single small nodule to large neck lump.
Colloid nodular goiter (3 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Colloid nodular goiter is the enlargement of an otherwise normal thyroid gland.Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
Graves disease (4 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Graves disease is an autoimmune disorder that leads to overactivity of the thyroid gland( hyperthyroidism).The thyroid gland is an important organ of the endocrine system. It is located in the front of the neck just below the voice box. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Deborah Wexler, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Endocrinologist, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/09/2008
Toxic nodular goiter (2 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Toxic nodular goiter involves an enlarged thyroid gland that contains a small rounded growth or growths called nodules. These nodules produce too much thyroid hormone.Toxic nodular goiter arises from an existing simple goiter. Reviewer: Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 06/17/2008
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