Health Encyclopedia

Goiter

Goiter

Picture of a normal-sized thyroid and a goiter

Goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. It can be caused by many things, including nodules, inflammation, and Graves' disease. Often goiter can be easily seen as a lump in the front of the neck, slightly to the left and/or right of center. It may move up and down when a person swallows.

The inset pictures above show a normal-sized thyroid and an enlarged thyroid, or goiter.

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology
Last Revised March 28, 2011

Last Revised: March 28, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology

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