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I am 87 years old and was told I have an enlarged thyroid (goiter). It is pressing on my voice box; I am hoarse all the time and short of breath. Are all enlarged thyroids just goiters? Is it possible it could be cancer? What causes this condition? Is surgery the only option or is it best to leave it alone? I have a heart problem as well as chronic back pain. Any information or advice you can provide will be appreciated.
The term “goiter” simply refers to any abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. A goiter can occur in a gland that is producing too much hormone (hyperthyroidism), too little hormone (hypothyroidism), or the correct amount of hormone (euthyroidism).
Causes of goiter
Iodine deficiency is the most common cause of goiter worldwide, but this has been almost entirely eliminated in the United States since the addition of iodide to salt in the 1920s. Goiter can sometimes be caused by thyroid nodules. A nodule is a lump within the gland. Goiters and thyroid nodules increase in frequency as we age. The vast majority (92-95%) of thyroid nodules are non-cancerous. Goiter can also be caused by two autoimmune thyroid diseases, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Graves’ disease.
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