Goiter
Anatomically speaking, the thyroid gland, located at the front portion of the neck, is part of the endocrine body system. A swollen thyroid or medically termed as goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland.  There are various causes of goitre and treatment depends on the cause. A goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland. A goitre can mean that all the thyroid gland is swollen or enlarged, or one or more swellings or lumps develop in a part or parts of the thyroid. The thyroid gland is in the lower part of the front of the neck.  A swelling in the neck may be due to an enlarged thyroid gland, often called a goitre. It can consist of one (solitary) or more (multinodular) lumps or nodules or can affect the whole gland (diffuse enlargement).  Ad. The most common cause of an enlarged neck is a goiter or enlarged thyroid nodules. These are caused by a swelling of the nodules located around the thyroid gland or a swelling of the thyroid itself. An enlarged neck refers to any swelling of the neck itself or of the internal structures within the neck. Lymph nodes, the thyroid gland, and other important systems are found inside the base of the neck along with vocal cords and blood vessels. Your thyroid is a small gland at the base of your neck that makes thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone controls many activities in your body, including how fast you burn calories and how fast your heart beats. Diseases of the thyroid cause it to make either too much or too little of the hormone. Thyroid cancer happens when cancer cells form from the tissues of the thyroid gland. Most people with thyroid cancer have a thyroid nodule that does not cause any symptoms. If you do have symptoms, you may have swelling or a lump in your neck. The lump may cause problems swallowing. Overview. The thyroid, located at the front of your neck, is a small butterfly shaped gland that is part of the body’s endocrine system. A swollen thyroid, or goiter, occurs when the gland swells to larger than normal. Large goiters, seen or felt at the base of the neck, may cause tightness in the throat, hoarseness, and difficulty breathing or swallowing. A swollen thyroid can increase or decrease the production of thyroid hormone and can present additional symptoms. Thyroiditis. Thyroiditis can cause temporary hyperthyroidism followed by hypothyroidism. It is an inflammation of the thyroid gland, which may cause tenderness or pain to the neck, jaw or ears. Viruses, fever, medication, pregnancy or immune disorders may cause thyroidtitis, though often the cause is unknown. Large goiters, seen or felt at the base of the neck, may cause tightness in the throat, hoarseness, and difficulty breathing or swallowing. A swollen thyroid can increase or decrease the production of thyroid hormone and can present additional symptoms. Enlarged thyroid. Goiter (GOI-tur) is an abnormal enlargement of your thyroid gland. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck just below your Adam's apple. Although goiters are usually painless, a large goiter can cause a cough and make it difficult for you to swallow or breathe.  Symptom: Swollen Neck. A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, As shown here; an enlarged thyroid can be seen as a swelling in the front of the neck. A goiter can occur both as a result of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. It can sometimes also result from tumors or nodules that develop within the thyroid gland.  Thyroid cancer. 1  Thyroid cancer is a malignant tumor of the thyroid gland. 2  Symptoms of thyroid cancer include swelling in the neck (goiter), neck pain, hoarseness, swallowing and breathing problem, swollen lymph gland in the neck. 1
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what causes enlarged thyroid in neck