NONTOXIC GOITER

Course overview

GOITER IS THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE THYROID GLAND. NONTOXIC GOITER IS THYROID GLAND ENLARGEMENT WITH NO DISTURBANCE IN THE THYROID FUNCTION. IT IS NOT DUE TO INFLAMMATION OR NEOPLASIA. ABNORMALITIES OF IODINE SUPPLIES OR METABOLISM ALWAYS LEAD TO NONTOXIC GOITER. THE THYROID GLAND SECRETES THYROID HORMONES (THYROXIN/T4 AND TRIIODOTHYRONINE/T3) IN RESPONSE TO THYROTROPIC HORMONE (TSH) OF THE PITUITARY GLAND STIMULATION. THEY ARE IMPORTANT FOR BODY CELLS' METABOLISM. IT ALSO SECRETES THE CALCITONIN HORMONE THAT HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN CALCIUM METABOLISM. WITH DECREASED THYROID HORMONE PRODUCTION DUE TO IODINE DEFICIENCY AS AN EXAMPLE, TSH RELEASE WILL INCREASE AND THIS, IN THE LONG-TERM, WILL LEAD TO THYROID FOLLICLES HYPERPLASIA AND AS A RESULT INCREASE IN THYROID GLAND SIZE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND TREATMENT OF NONTOXIC GOITER AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND TREATING THIS CONDITION.