describe types of goiter
There are three main types of goiter:
1. Diffuse Goiter: This is the most common type, characterized by an enlarged thyroid gland that affects the entire gland and causes a symmetrical enlargement. It is usually caused by a lack of iodine in the diet, which leads to the overstimulation of thyroid gland to produce more hormones. This type of goiter may not cause any symptoms initially but can later result in difficulty swallowing, breathing, or speaking if it continues to grow.
2. Nodular Goiter: This type of goiter is characterized by the presence of one or more thyroid nodules within the gland. The nodules can be overactive (known as toxic nodular goiter or toxic adenoma) or non-functioning. Nodular goiters may cause symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, a visible swelling in the neck, hoarseness, or a choking sensation.
3. Multinodular Goiter: Similar to nodular goiter, multinodular goiter is characterized by the presence of multiple nodules within the thyroid gland. These nodules can cause an enlargement of the thyroid and may be either non-functioning or overactive. Multinodular goiters can cause symptoms similar to those of nodular goiters, including difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or breathing problems.
It is worth noting that while these types of goiters can generally be non-cancerous (benign), in some cases, goiter may be a symptom of underlying thyroid conditions such as Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis, which may require further evaluation and treatment.