{"id":729,"date":"2022-04-07T12:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T19:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www2.thyroidaware.com\/za\/?post_type=post_thyroid&p=729"},"modified":"2025-02-05T11:30:11","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T19:30:11","slug":"about-goiters-and-nodules","status":"publish","type":"post_thyroid","link":"https:\/\/www2.thyroidaware.com\/za\/thyroid\/about-goiters-and-nodules\/","title":{"rendered":"About Goiters and Nodules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A shortage of iodine in the diet is the world\u2019s number one cause of an enlarged thyroid (commonly known as “goiter”).1<\/sup> In fact, an estimated 0.7 billion people worldwide are affected by an iodine deficiency.2<\/sup><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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How to recognize a goiter<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A goiter forms when the thyroid gland attempts to compensate for iodine deficiency and the associated low and\/or failed production of thyroid hormones. In this process, it gradually grows from its normal size.1<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person with an immensely enlarged thyroid may have problems swallowing and breathing.3<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends the so-called \u201cneck check\u201d to help people recognize a possibly enlarged thyroid.4<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simple visual classification can be inaccurate \u2014 primarily due to the possibility of human error and variations in individual anatomy (e.g. a muscular neck can conceal an enlarged thyroid) \u2014 and should by no means serve as a substitute for a specific diagnosis by a doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to recognize a nodule<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thyroid nodules are abnormal overgrowths of tissue in the thyroid gland.5<\/sup> Some people develop one nodule while others develop many.5<\/sup> Thyroid nodules are relatively common, with as many as half of all people having at least one nodule by the time they reach the age of 60.5<\/sup> Just as with goiter formation, the formation of thyroid nodules can be caused by insufficient iodine in the diet.6<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thyroid nodules are classified by scans as \u201chot\u201d, \u201cwarm\u201d or \u201ccold\u201d. If a nodule does not produce iodine then it will appear \u201ccold\u201d on the scan. Those that do produce iodine will show up darker and are called \u201chot\u201d. Approximately 85% of nodules are cold, 10% are warm and 5% are hot. Of these, 85% of cold nodules are benign (non-cancerous), as are 90% and 95% of warm and hot nodules, respectively.7<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, most thyroid nodules do not cause any noticeable symptoms.6<\/sup> They often go undiscovered until the next routine medical examination or on imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans or neck ultrasound, done for unrelated reasons.6<\/sup> As the thyroid nodules grow further, the following symptoms can occur (although this is rather rare):<\/p>\n\n\n\n