Toxic Goiter – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Toxic goiter is characterized by increased secretion of thyroxine hormone. The condition of increased secretion of thyroxine hormone is known as hyperthyroidism. There are various types of toxic goiter. Toxic goiter includes toxic nodular goiter as seen in Grave’s disease, toxic multinodular goiter, and toxic adenoma. Toxic goiter can be caused due to various factors. The prognosis of the condition is good and toxic goiter can be effectively managed by following a suitable treatment strategy. The treatment may include a combination of medicine and surgery.

What Is Toxic Goiter?

Goiter is the most common disorder of the thyroid. In this condition, the abnormal growth is developed in thyroid which is located just below the Adam’s apple. When one or more nodules or abnormal growth occurs in the thyroid gland, the condition is called toxic goiter. The increasing number of nodules increases the secretion of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is responsible for the regulation of metabolic rate, brain development, muscle control and maintenance of mood and bone. Toxic goiter is a painless growth. This growth may result in breathing difficulties and medical intervention is required in such cases. In rare cases, toxic goiter may be cancerous.

What Is The Cause Of Toxic Goiter?

1. Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disease is one of the main causes of a toxic goiter. The thyroid gland produces a small amount of thyroid hormone. Autoimmune disease increases secretion of hormones which cause inflammation in the thyroid gland. This condition is commonly caused due to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, in which the immune system attacks its tissue resulting in inflammation of the thyroid gland.

2. Iodine Deficiency

Iodine deficiency is a major cause of goiter. Iodine plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormone which regulates the rate of metabolism in the body.

3. Simple Goiter

In this condition fluid and solid filled lumps also develop at both sides of the thyroid gland which increases the size of the gland.

4. Graves’ Disease

Sometimes goiter can also cause an overproduction of thyroid hormone. In this disease, antibodies from the immune system mistakenly attack the thyroid gland and secretion of thyroid hormone is increased.

5. Smoking

Thiocyanate, a chemical present in the smoke of tobacco, interferes with the absorption of iodine which may cause iodine deficiency.

6. Lithium

t is a type of psychiatric drug which affects the function of the thyroid gland.

7. Genetic Condition

Various genetic conditions interfere with the secretion of thyroxine hormone resulting in toxic goiter.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Toxic Goiter?

Following are some of the signs and symptoms of toxic goiter. It may be possible that the patient with toxic goiter may not encounter all of the symptoms:

• Swelling at the base of the neck which is visible
• Difficulty in breathing
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Coughing
• A tight feeling in throat
• Increased sweating
• Insomnia
• Weight loss
• Atrial fibrillation

[Also Read: Causes Of Pain When Swallowing]

Is Toxic Goiter Cancerous?

Not all toxic goiters are cancerous. The cancerous nodules cannot be differentiated from benign toxic goiter only through symptoms. Commonly, the cancerous thyroid nodules are slow-growing and fast-growing cancerous nodules are rare. It was generally believed that hypersecretion of thyroxine hormone in toxic goiter acts as a preventive mechanism for cancer as compared to non-toxic goiter. However, a study done on the patients suffering from toxic and non-toxic goiter found that both the patients are at similar risk for cancer due to goiter.

Is Toxic Goiter Curable?

In most of the cases, doctors can cure and control toxic goiter. Through thyroidectomy, your doctor will remove all or part of the thyroid gland to remove toxic goiter permanently. This procedure is performed when the size of the goiter becomes very large. Radioactive iodine and other medications also are used to control an excessive amount of thyroid hormone which is produced due to toxic goiter.

How To Treat Toxic Goiter Naturally?

Get Enough Volume Of Iodine

Do get enough iodine in your daily diet. Incorporate iodine salt, shrimp and seafood which are rich in iodine. To maintain the level of iodine in the body, you should eat iodine-rich foods such as dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese), bread and cereals.

A person requires about 150 mcg iodine in a day. Sufficient amount of iodine is important for pregnant women, lactating women, infants, and children.

L-Carnitine

L-carnitine is highly effective in reversing the effects of hyperthyroidism such as fatigue and tremors.

Selenium

Some studies suggested that selenium is effective in the management of thyroid eye disease, which is associated with Grave’s disease.

Bugleweed

It is a plant that suppresses the function of the thyroid gland.

Other Treatment Options

Medications

If you have hypothyroidism, your doctor will recommend you some medicines such as levothyroxine, which reduces the size of the thyroid gland.

Radioactive Iodine

Radioactive iodine is also used to treat goiter. Radioactive iodine is administered orally and reaches the thyroid gland through the bloodstream. Radioactive iodine destroys thyroid cells and decreases the size of the goiter.

Surgery

A surgical process is performed when the size of the thyroid gland is increased to a level that causes difficulty in breathing and swallowing. Through this procedure, your doctor will remove the thyroid gland. This procedure is called a thyroidectomy.

Rohit Jain

Rohit Jain is an IPR Specialist and Medical Content Writing Expert. For over a decade, he has written several articles in the areas of female infertility, Erectile dysfunction, hemangioma, cervical cancer, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, mononucleosis, mitral valve disorder, shin splints, mild cognitive impairment, cellulitis, lymphoma, sepsis, cardiac rehabilitation and more.