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Simple goiter is a concept that covers the states of enlargement of the thyroid gland that do not give rise to hormonal overactivity and symptoms related to its disturbed hormonal activity. There are two types of goiter: simple goiter and nodular goiter.
Simple goiter – definition
Simple goiter is a uniform enlargement of the thyroid gland not accompanied by hormonal disorders. The ailment can be examined by palpation, the doctor then feels the enlarged thyroid gland, which under normal conditions is not palpable. The transient enlargement of the thyroid gland that occurs during puberty is called youthful will. Women may have a simple goiter during menstruation and pregnancy. There are two types of goiter: diffuse simple or parenchymal goitre, occurring with the evenly enlarged thyroid gland, and simple nodular goitre, which is characterized by easily palpable nodules within the enlarged thyroid gland.
An auxiliary test in the diagnosis of goiter is ultrasound of the thyroid gland, which shows an increase in the volume of the gland above 20 ml in women and 25 ml in men, with normal concentrations of thyroid hormones in laboratory tests.
Simple will – division
Depending on the nature of the gland enlargement, we can distinguish:
• simple diffuse goiter (when the thyroid gland is enlarged evenly),
• wole guzowatewhen in the area of the enlarged thyroid gland one can feel well-demarcated nodules, which are an expression of uneven growth.
Simple goiter – causes
The cause of goiter formation is the insufficient amount of iodine in water and food, which does not meet the needs of the human body.
It is assumed that under normal conditions an adult needs 0,15–0,20 mg of iodine daily. There are areas (in Poland mainly in Podkarpacie and Lower Silesia) where many cases of goiter are found. We are then talking about Fr. endemic occurrence of goiter.
Temporary enlargement of the thyroid gland is also observed during puberty (these are the so-called youthful goiter), in women during menstruation, during pregnancy. Simple diffuse goiters, if they do not cause pressure symptoms, are only a cosmetic factor, and if they do not show symptoms of thyroid hormone deficiency, they do not require therapeutic intervention, as they are actually an adaptive state, not a disease. In rare cases, an overactive thyroid gland can develop on the basis of the goiter. Therefore, people with goiter should periodically come for a medical check-up.
Simple goiter – symptoms
The ailment may go unnoticed for some time and is detected accidentally during a routine medical examination. However, when symptoms do develop, the person’s neck feels tight and it becomes difficult to breathe as the gland gradually grows in size. Patients very often feel discomfort due to the fastening of the collar, but less frequently they experience problems with swallowing or coughing.
Simple goiter – diagnosis and treatment
Nodular goiter requires scintigraphic and sometimes biopsy examinations. People with simple goiter who develop hoarseness and the aforementioned compression symptoms (e.g. dyspnoea, laryngeal tightness) require absolute medical attention.
Surgical treatment is then advisable in order to remove the pressure. Sometimes it is operated for cosmetic reasons.
In fact, simple goitres do not need to be treated, as long as they are not oppressive, because they practically do not interfere with everyday life. Of course, it is possible to reduce the goiter surgically or to stop its development by means of low-dose thyroxine preparations. Treatment with these drugs should last at least 12-24 months.
Patients should remember to periodically check goiter, as it may develop into hypothyroidism or turn into nodular goitre (which, in turn, may turn into cancer).
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