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Goiter

A goitre (or goiter) (Latin struma) is a swelling in the neck (just below adam's apple or larynx) due to an enlarged thyroid gland. They are classified in different ways: more...

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  • A "diffuse goitre" is a goitre that has spread through all of the thyroid (and is contrasted with a "simple goitre", "single thyroid nodule" and "multinodular goitre".
  • "Toxic goitre" refers to goitre deriving from inflammation, neoplasm, or malfunction of the thyroid, while "nontoxic goitre" refers to all other types (such as that caused by lithium or an autoimmune reaction.)

Causes

The most common cause for goitre in the world is iodine deficiency (E01). Other causes are:

  • Hashimoto's thyroiditis (E06.3)
  • Graves-Basedow disease (E05.0)
  • juvenile goitre due to congenital hypothyroidism (E03.0)
  • neoplasm of the thyroid
  • thyroiditis (acute, chronic) (E06)
  • side-effects of pharmacological therapy (E03.2)

Occurrence

Iodine is necessary for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine and thyroxine (T3 and T4). When iodine is not available, these hormones cannot be made. In response to low thyroid hormones, the pituitary gland releases thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Thyroid stimulating hormone acts to try and increase synthesis of T3 and T4, but it also causes the thyroid gland to grow in size as a type of compensation.

Goitre is more common among women. Treatment may not be necessary if the goitre is not caused by disease and is small. Removal of the goitre may be necessary if it causes difficulty with breathing or swallowing.

History and future

Goitre was previously common in many areas that were deficient in iodine in the soil. (For example, in the English Midlands, the condition was known as Derbyshire Neck). The condition now is practically absent in affluent nations, where table salt is supplemented with iodine.

Some health workers fear that a resurgence of goitre might occur because of the trend to use rock salt and/or sea salt, which has not been fortified with iodine.

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Goiter
From Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence, 4/6/01 by A. Woodward

The thyroid gland, located in the base of the neck, absorbs iodine from the blood and uses this to produce hormones that regulate many body functions, including growth, nerve function, and absorption of vitamins and calcium. If the thyroid gland does not receive enough iodine from the blood, the gland may enlarge, causing a goiter. A goiter can also develop if the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones, a condition called hypothyroidism. Goiter is also present in hyperthyroidism, when the gland produces too much thyroid hormone.

A common cause of goiter around the world is lack of iodine in the diet. The thyroid needs iodine to produce thyroid hormones, and if sufficient iodine is not available, the gland enlarges because it is working harder. The main dietary sources of iodine are grains and vegetables grown in iodine-rich soil, and saltwater fish and seafoods. The Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for iodine for adolescents and adults is 150 micrograms per day. To combat iodine deficiency in the U.S., iodine has been added to salt since 1924. The body needs only very small amounts of iodine for healthy thyroid function, so iodized salt usually provides an adequate dietary amount.

There are two forms of thyroid disorder, however, that affect children regardless of diet. Congenital hypothyroidism is a disorder in which a child may be born with an underactive thyroid gland. Symptoms appear when the baby is six to twelve weeks old, and include cool, mottled or yellowish skin, coarse hair, and a dull appetite. The baby's neck will look unusually short and fat. The facial features are also affected: the bridge of the nose is underdeveloped, so the nose appears flat and the eyes seem widely spaced, and the tongue is thick and protrudes.

Hypothyroidism slows the baby's growth and development, and the child may have weak muscles and slow reflexes. If untreated, this condition can lead to mental retardation . Hypothyroidism can also begin later in life, in a child born with normal thyroid function. It usually begins when a child is between 11 and 14 years old. Onset of this disease is not related to diet, but it may be a side effect of an auto-immune disease that attacks the thyroid. Children with this disease may develop dry, coarse hair and skin, poor circulation, and low blood pressure. Goiter may appear, along with the facial characteristics of the hypothyroid baby. The disease slows the child's growth, and puberty is usually delayed. All the symptoms of acquired hypothyroidism can be treated with medical intervention, and the condition does not lead to mental retardation. Diagnosis is made with a simple blood test, and treatment involves replacing the deficient thyroid hormones. The goiter may need to be removed surgically.

Hyperthyroidism, or overproduction of thyroid hormones, usually affects older women, and only rarely affects children. In children with this condition, goiter may develop, and the eyes may bulge out. Just the opposite of hypothyroidism, the hyperthyroid child grows faster than normal and may have flushed, warm skin, and increased heart rate. The child may be restless and irritable, unable to concentrate, and tire easily. All these symptoms can be reversed by medical treatment. Treatment usually involves medication that blocks the excess hormone production. Surgery may be needed to remove the thyroid gland or reduce its size.

The symptoms of thyroid malfunction are usually obvious, and can be confirmed with a blood test. Pediatricians normally keep careful records of a child's growth and weight gain, and can use these to diagnose the slowed or increased growth symptomatic of thyroid disease. Any swelling on a child's neck should be given prompt medical attention. Treatment of thyroid problems, especially if undertaken promptly, are usually successful and without serious side effects.

Examples of iodine-rich foods
FoodServing sizeMicrograms of iodine
Cod or haddock, cooked3-1/2 oz (100 g)175
Chocolate milkshake (fast food)1 average158
Homemade meatloaf3-1/2 oz (100 g)123
Lima beans, boiled1/2 cup (90 g)104
Chocolate ice cream1 cup (133 g)94
Corn grits, cooked1/2 cup (120 g)86
Chocolate milk, low-fat1 cup (250 g)83
Yogurt, low-fat1 cup (227 g)73
Milk, low-fat1 cup (244 g)66
Milk, skim1 cup (246 g)64
Milk, whole1 cup (244 g)61

Further Reading

For Your Information

Books

  • Bayliss, Richard I. S., and W. M. G. Tunbridge. Thyroid Disease: The Facts. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.
  • Wood, Lawrence C., David S. Cooper, and E. Chester Ridgway. Your Thyroid: A Home Reference. 3rd ed. New York: Ballantine Books, 1995.

Periodicals

  • Zamula, Evelyn. "Thyroid Disorders Often Unsuspected." FDA Consumer 26, December 1992, pp. 34-39.

Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood & Adolescence. Gale Research, 1998.

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