Your thyroid is a small gland at the front of your neck. It’s normally not visible, but certain thyroid conditions can make it grow larger and look swollen. An enlarged thyroid is called a goiter.
In the United States, about 5% of adults have goiters. While a goiter doesn’t automatically mean you have an underlying thyroid condition, you should never ignore it — in some cases, it can be a sign of thyroid cancer.
Although it’s relatively rare, thyroid cancer is very serious. Identifying cancer early gives you your best chance at treating it successfully, and our team at North Tarrant Health Providers in Fort Worth, Texas, is here to help.
As a board-certified surgeon who specializes in endocrine care and surgery, Balaguru Sambandam, MD, FACS, can evaluate your goiter and help you find an appropriate course of treatment. If you’re concerned you might have a thyroid goiter, here’s what you need to know.
A goiter develops when cells in your thyroid grow irregularly. Some goiters affect your whole thyroid, while others may form as lumps or nodules in just one part.
Goiters start small, but often get larger and more noticeable over time. Sometimes, thyroid goiters remain small. In these cases, they might only be detected during a routine exam or if you have an imaging test for another reason.
The most common signs of a goiter are:
Anyone can get a goiter, but certain factors may increase your risk. You’re more likely to develop a goiter or other thyroid problems if you’re female, middle-aged or older, or have a family history of thyroid problems.
If you notice swelling in your neck, don’t ignore your symptoms. Scheduling a thyroid evaluation is the only way to identify the cause of your goiter and determine which treatment can lower your risk of health complications.
Dr. Sambandam and our team at North Tarrant Health Providers review your medical history, ask about your symptoms, and do a physical exam to uncover the possible causes of your goiter.
In some cases, goiters aren’t linked to changes in your thyroid function. In fact, when lack of iodine in your diet causes a goiter, it can be remedied simply by increasing your iodine levels. Other common causes are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, which decrease and increase in hormone production, respectively.
Dr. Sambandam develops a treatment plan depending on your diagnosis. In some cases, no treatment is needed. If you have another thyroid condition, treating it can also treat your goiter.
If you do have thyroid cancer, early identification helps make treatment more effective. Dr. Sambandam may recommend watchful waiting, surgery to remove your thyroid, or a combination of other treatments depending on the type of thyroid cancer you have.
Goiters are relatively common, and they could be a sign of a more serious thyroid condition. If you think you might have a goiter, schedule a thyroid evaluation to protect your health. To get started, contact our team at 817-904-4165 or request an appointment online today.
