Goiter
Our team of specialists and staff believe that informed patients are better equipped to make decisions regarding their health and well being. For your personal use, we have created an extensive patient library covering an array of educational topics. Browse through these diagnoses and treatments to learn more about topics of interest to you. Or, for a more comprehensive search of our entire Web site, enter your term(s) in the search bar provided.
Mass ENT's handouts and Patient information
General Handouts
- Countdown to Surgery
- Minor Procedure Consent
- Office Endoscopy Consent
- Pre Surgical Bleed
- Steroid Consent
- TMJ Info
EAR
- Chronic Otitis and Cholesteatoma
- Intratympanic Steroid Injections
- Mastoidectomy consent form
- Mastoidectomy Info sheet
- Stapedectomy info Sheet
- Tubes consent form
- Tubes Info Sheet
- Tubes Postop
- Tympanoplasty consent form
- Tympanoplasty Info Sheet
Head and Neck
- FNA consent
- Head and Neck surgery consent
- Parotidectomy Consent
- Parotidectomy info sheet
- SMG consent form
- SMG Info sheet
- Thyroidectomy Info sheet
- Thyroidectomy surgery consent
Nose
- CRNF consent form
- Epistaxis info sheet
- FESS consent form
- FESS Septo consent form
- Nasal Surgery Postop Instructions
- Rhinoplasty consent form
- Rhinoplasty info sheet
- Septoplasty consent form
- Septoplasty info sheet
- Sinus w_w_o septo info sheet
Pediatric
- Adenoidectomy consent form
- Adenoidectomy info sheet
- Adenoidectomy Postop
- T and A info sheet
- T and A consent form
- Tonsillectomy consent form
- Tonsillectomy info sheet
- Tonsillectomy Postop
Throat
- Endoscopic Surg of Upper Consent
- Larynx Scope consent form
- Larynx Scope info sheet
- LPR GERD Info
- UPPP Consent
- UPPP Info
- Upper Airway Endoscopy Consent
- Upper Airway Endoscopy Info
As always, you can contact our office to answer any questions or concerns.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the front of the neck. It produces thyroid hormone, which controls your metabolism, temperature regulation, and keeps your muscles and organs working properly.
Goiter refers to an enlarged thyroid gland. A single or multiple nodules, Graves’ disease , and hyperthyroidism can all lead to the development of a goiter. A goiter can develop in one or both sides of the thyroid gland. In some people, the goiter will start to grow down into the chest. This is referred to as a substernal goiter.
What Are the Symptoms of Goiter?
Goiters can often be seen or felt as a lump or mass in the neck. As goiters become bigger they can put pressure on your windpipe (trachea) or food pipe (esophagus), causing symptoms such as:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing (particularly when lying down)
- Choking sensation
- Pressure in the neck
What Causes Goiter?
In some parts of the world, goiters develop because of a lack of iodine in peoples’ diets. However, in the United States where iodine is added to salt, goiters are most often caused by other problems. A family history of goiter increases the risk of developing goiter.
What Are the Treatment Options?
When a patient starts to experience symptoms, treatment is often offered. The exact type of treatment is based on the cause of the goiter and the patient’s preferences. In some cases, thyroid surgery is the best treatment option. Discuss any possible symptoms or concerns you may have with your primary care provider, an endocrinologist, or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist, or otolaryngologist.
What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor?
- I have difficulty breathing or swallowing. Could this be related to a goiter?
- How big is my goiter?
- Do I need to treat it, or can I just watch it?
Copyright 2021. American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Last reviewed April 2020.