goitre

Enlargement of the thyroid gland, causing a prominent swelling in the front of the neck. The thyroid normally weighs 0.5 to 0.9 oz (15 to 25 g); however, goitrous thyroid glands can grow to more than 2 lbs (1,000 g). A large goitre may interfere with breathing and swallowing and cause a choking feeling. Endemic goitre, the most common, is due to iodine deficiency, which causes a reduction in thyroid hormone synthesis (hypothyroidism). As a result, there is a compensatory increase in secretion of the anterior pituitary hormone thyrotropin. Thyrotropin not only stimulates thyroid hormone production but also causes an increase in size and number of cells in the thyroid. Advanced cases are treated with thyroid hormone or with surgical removal of the thyroid if it obstructs breathing. There are numerous other causes of goitre, including defects in thyroid hormone synthesis and inflammation of the thyroid. An enlarged thyroid may have normally functioning tissue or may produce too much hormone (hyperthyroidism). See also Graves disease.

goitre (US), goiter

Pathol a swelling of the thyroid gland, in some cases nearly doubling the size of the neck, usually caused by under- or overproduction of hormone by the gland

Mentioned in	?		Encyclopedia browser	?		Full browser	?
No references found			diffraction instrument diffraction loss diffraction mottle Diffraction of Light Diffraction of Particles Diffraction of Radio Waves Diffraction of Waves Diffraction of X Rays diffraction pattern diffraction propagation diffraction ring diffraction scattering diffraction spectrum diffraction symmetry diffraction velocimeter diffraction zone diffraction-limited diffractional pulse-height discriminator diffractometer diffractometry Diffserv diffuse diffuse aurora diffuse front diffuse galactic light Diffuse goitre diffuse hypergammaglobulinemia diffuse illumination diffuse light diffuse nebula Diffuse Nebulas diffuse placenta diffuse radiation diffuse reflection diffuse reflection model diffuse reflector diffuse series diffuse sky radiation diffuse skylight diffuse sound diffuse spectrum Diffuse Toxic Goiter diffuse transmission diffuse transmission density diffuse-cutting filter diffuse-porous wood diffused emitter-collector transistor diffused junction diffused mesa transistor diffused resistor diffused-alloy transistor			Diffuse C Cell Hyperplasia diffuse cataract diffuse cerebral sclerosis diffuse cerebral sclerosis diffuse cerebral sclerosis Diffuse cerebral sclerosis of schilder Diffuse cerebral sclerosis of schilder Diffuse Connective Tissue Disease Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis diffuse cutaneous mastocytosis Diffuse cystic mastopathy Diffuse Dermal Mast Cell Infiltration diffuse emphysema diffuse erythema Diffuse esophageal spasm Diffuse esophageal spasms Diffuse Esophagus Spasm Diffuse Excessive High-Signal Intensity diffuse fibrosing alveolitis diffuse fibrosing alveolitis diffuse fibrosing alveolitis diffuse front diffuse galactic light Diffuse Global Granulomatous Glomerulonephritis diffuse glomerulonephritis diffuse glomerulonephritis diffuse glomerulonephritis diffuse goiter Diffuse goitre Diffuse Granulomatous Lung Disease diffuse hepatic fibrosis diffuse hepatic fibrosis diffuse hepatic fibrosis diffuse hereditary gingival fibrosis diffuse hereditary gingival fibrosis diffuse hereditary gingival fibrosis Diffuse Histiocytic Lymphoma Diffuse histiocytic sarcoma diffuse hypergammaglobulinemia diffuse hypersensitivity pneumonia diffuse hypertrophy-breast diffuse idiopathic interstitial fibrosis diffuse idiopathic interstitial fibrosis diffuse idiopathic interstitial fibrosis Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) diffuse illumination Diffuse Infiltrative Lung Disease Diffuse Infiltrative Lymphocytosis Syndrome Diffuse Infrared Background Explorer Diffuse inter-reflection Diffuse interreflection Diffuse Interstellar Bands Diffuse interstitial fibrosis Diffuse Interstitial Lung Disease

goitre (redirected from Diffuse goitre)

goitre

goitre
(redirected from Diffuse goitre)