Goiter - Causes - Types Of Goiter

Goiter is a Thyroid Disease.

Goiter

Enlargement of thyroid gland irrespective of its pathology, is called goiter. 

Thyroid gland is located in the neck, below the adam's apple (bony prominence in the neck, more porminent in males) and in front of the trachea.
Enlargement of thyroid gland causes a prominent (or slightly or non prominent)  bulge in the neck.


There are many causes of goiter.

Causes of Goiter.

Following conditions lead to enlargement of thyroid gland and goiter formation.

1. Physiological goiter.

• Puberty onset goiter
• Pregnancy related goiter.

2. Autoimmune diseases.

• Grave's disease 
• Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

3. Thyroiditis.

• Acute thyroiditis
• Chronic thyroiditis ( Reidel's disease)

4.  Iodine deficiency goiter (also called endemic goiter)

5. Goiterogens (chemicals aiding goiter formation for example sulphonylureas) 

6. Multinodular goiter

7. Diffuse goiter

8. Cysts

9. Tumors

• Adenoma
• Carcinoma
• Lymphoma

10. Sarcoidosis

11. Tuberculosis 

12. Dyshormogenesis.

Types Of Goiter.

1. Non Toxic (Simple) Goiter.

• Diffuse hyperplastic goiter
• Colloid goiter
• Multinodular non toxic goiter
• Solitary non toxic nodule

2. Toxic Goiter

• Diffuse toxic goiter (Grave's disease)
• Multinodular Toxic Goiter
• Solitary toxic nodule.

3. Neoplastic Goiter

• Enlargement of thyroid due to benign neoplasm
• Enlargement of thyroid due to malignant neoplasm

4. Thyroiditis Associated Goiter.

• Granulomatous Thyroiditis associated goiter
• Autoimmune thyroiditis (hashimoto's thyroiditis) associated goiter
• Riedel's thyroiditis associated goiter

5. Other Rare Goiters

• Amyloid goiter
• Acute bacterial thyroiditis associated goiter
• Chronic bacterial thyroiditis associated goiter