goitered

Goitered is an adjective describing a person or animal that has a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck. A goiter can arise from several conditions and does not itself indicate a single diagnosis.

The most common global cause is iodine deficiency; in iodine-sufficient populations, goiters typically reflect autoimmune thyroid disease (such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis or Graves' disease), nodular thyroid disease, or thyroiditis. Less often, medications, radiation exposure, or genetic factors contribute.

Symptoms range from a visible or palpable neck lump to, in larger goiters, pressure on the windpipe or esophagus, causing coughing, hoarseness, or difficulty swallowing. Thyroid function may be normal or abnormal, resulting in hypo- or hyperthyroidism.

Diagnosis combines clinical exam with imaging and laboratory tests. Ultrasound characterizes size and nodules; blood tests measure TSH and free T4 (and sometimes free T3), while antibodies may help identify autoimmune causes. In nodular goiters, fine-needle aspiration biopsy may be performed; nuclear medicine scans can assess functionality.

Treatment depends on cause, size, and symptoms. Iodine supplementation is used for deficiency; medical management targets thyroid hormone balance. Large or compressive goiters, or those with suspicious nodules, may require surgery; radioactive iodine may be used for hyperthyroidism or selected cases.

Etymology: goiter derives from French goitre, from Latin guttur meaning throat. The adjective goitered simply means having a goiter.