- Goitre is a non-specific term describing enlargement of the thyroid gland
- Does not imply the presence of any specific pathology
- Goitres can be either diffuse or multi-nodular
Causes of diffuse goitres
- Simple goitre
- Patient euthyroid
- Due to compensatory hypertrophy resulting from
- Iodine deficient diet
- Congenital enzyme defect in thyroxine synthesis
- Increased physiological demands
- Smooth toxic goitre
- Patient hyperthyroid (= Graves disease)
- Other smooth goitres
- Thyroiditis
- Lymphoma
- Thyroid amyloidosis
Causes of multinodular goitres
Usually a simple goitre that has progressed to nodularity
| Examination |
Function |
Causes |
| Diffuse goitre |
Euthyroid |
Physiological goitre or autoimmune thyroiditis |
| Diffuse goitre |
Hyperthyroid |
Primary hyperthyroidism |
| Multinodular goitre |
Euthyroid |
Multinodular goitre |
| Multinodular goitre |
Hyperthyroid |
Toxic nodular goitre (rare) |
| Solitary nodule |
Euthyroid |
Thyroid cyst or tumour |
| Solitary nodule |
Hyperthyroid |
Functioning adenoma |
Picture provided by Rodrigo Lopez, Hospital Frances, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bibliography
Grossman R F Clark O H.
Multinodular Goitre. Curr
Pract Surg 1993; 5: 63 - 71. |