Goitre

A goitre is simply an enlargement of your thyroid. There are many reasons your thyroid may be enlarged including nodules within your thyroid, inflammatory changes or cysts. Sometimes your thyroid is enlarged due to your body’s natural cycles for example during pregnancy.

Thyroid enlargement can cause problems. Sometimes the gland can compress your airway (trachea) or put pressure on your swallowing tube (oesophagus). In these situations, surgery may be considered to improve the symptoms that you are experiencing. Surgery may include removing part or all your thyroid. The extent of surgery may depend on your history and where in your thyroid the enlargement is.