Goiter Treatment and Surgery in Boulder, CO

Goiter is a common condition in America, affecting 5% of the total population. It is the enlargement of the thyroid gland below the Adam’s apple in the neck. The good news is that goiter is treatable. Alpine Surgical offers goiter surgery in Boulder, CO.

What Is a Goiter?

Goiter is a disorder that causes your thyroid gland to become bigger. Your thyroid can expand in size or acquire one or more tiny lumps called thyroid nodules. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in your neck, just below the Adam’s apple.

It produces the hormones that play a role in specific body functions, such as metabolism, body temperature, mood, and heart rate. Goiter can be caused by a variety of factors. Depending on the cause, treatment may or may not be necessary.

The common causes of goiter are iodine deficiency, Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s disease, Thyroid cancer, and Thyroiditis.

Types of Goiter

Goiters can be classed in a variety of ways, including how they grow and whether or not their thyroid hormone levels are erratic.

These are the classifications of goiters based on how they enlarge:

• Simple Goiter – Occurs when your entire thyroid gland swells and is smooth to the touch.

• Nodular Goiter – Occurs when a solid or fluid-filled lump known as a nodule forms within your thyroid, causing it to feel lumpy.

• Multinodular Goiter – Occurs when there are several lumps within the thyroid gland. The nodules may be apparent or only discovered after examination or scanning.

On the other hand, goiter can also be classified based on thyroid hormone levels as follows:

• Toxic Goiter – The thyroid is enlarged and produces an excess of thyroid hormone.

• Nontoxic Goiter – The thyroid gland is enlarged but has normal thyroid levels. In other words, you do not have an overactive or underactive thyroid.

Managing Thyroid Enlargement With Surgical Expertise

The treatment for a goiter is determined by the size of the thyroid, the symptoms, and the cause. Treatments include:

• Medications – You may be given medications for thyroid hormone replacement (underactive thyroid), antithyroid (overactive thyroid), or aspirin (inflammation) depending on the cause of your goiter.

• Radioactive Iodine Therapy – This involves taking radioactive iodine orally if you have an overactive thyroid.

• Surgery (Thyroidectomy) – Removal of all or part of your thyroid gland. It is usually done when the enlarged thyroid is causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing. It is also prescribed if you have thyroid cancer or nodules.

If the goiter is small and not troubling you, it does not require treatment. However, it will be closely monitored for any changes.

Goiter Surgery at Alpine Surgical

In cases of an enlarged thyroid and thyroid cancer, Alpine Surgical provides goiter surgery in Boulder, CO. Contact our office to learn more about this service or to schedule an appointment.