A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland that appears as swelling at the base of the neck and may or may not cause symptoms. It is most commonly caused worldwide by iodine deficiency, while in iodine-sufficient regions it is often linked to autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ disease, as well as thyroid nodules, inflammation, medications, pregnancy, or rarely cancer. Symptoms can include neck fullness, difficulty swallowing or breathing, voice changes, coughing, and signs of an overactive or underactive thyroid, though many small goiters cause no problems. Treatment depends on the cause, size, and symptoms and may involve observation, medications, radioactive iodine, surgery, or correcting the underlying thyroid disorder or iodine imbalance.
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