Goiters
An overview of Providence Health Care's services and resources for patients with goiters.
Overview
A goiter is when your thyroid gland becomes enlarged. Sometimes your thyroid gland becomes big enough that your neck swells.
Your thyroid gland sits at the front of your neck below your Adam’s apple. It makes the thyroid hormone, which helps your body use energy and stay warm. The hormone also affects your brain, heart and muscles.
Goiters may impact the amount of thyroid hormone you produce. They may cause you to make too much or too little hormone.
Reasons for goiters include:
- Thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease)
- Thyroid nodules or cysts
- Hyperthyroidism
- Infections
- Drug use
- In rare cases, thyroid cancer
A lack of iodine in your diet can also cause a goiter. This is rare in North America, since most people eat iodized salt.
Diagnosis & testing
If your health care provider at Providence Health Care suspects you have a goiter, they will perform a physical exam.
If they can feel a goiter, they will likely refer you to a thyroid surgeon or the Thyroid Clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital. This clinic specializes in diagnosing and managing thyroid disorders.
You will need to take several diagnostic tests. These include:
- Imaging tests like an X-ray, ultrasound or computer tomography (CT) scans to better see your thyroid gland.
- Blood tests including a Thyroid Function Test and an antibody test. Thyroid Function Tests show the level of different thyroid hormones in your blood. Antibody tests look for proteins linked to autoimmune disorders like Graves’ disease and Thyroiditis (Hashimoto’s disease).
- Fine-needle aspiration biopsy A health care provider will remove a sample of cells from your goiter to confirm it is not cancerous. They use a very thin needle and guide it to the right place using ultrasound. They will then send the sample to a laboratory for testing.
Treatment & management
Treatment for your goiter will depend on its size, cause and your symptoms. Common approaches include:
Clinics that treat goiters
Support services
Providence Health Care offers a variety of services to support those we care for. The following services may be of use or benefit to you and your families.
Support for Indigenous Peoples
The Indigenous Wellness Liaison Team is here to support your health journey. Team members offer cultural support and healthcare advocacy. Learn more below or call them at 604-682-2344,62937 or email IWL@providencehealth.bc.ca.
Education & resources
Patient education
- Going Home after Thyroidectomy Surgery
- Guidelines for Outpatients Receiving Radioactive Iodine Treatment for Hyperthyroidism
- Information for Patients Having a Thyroid Uptake and Scan (multiple languages)
- Instructions After Thyroid Surgery
- Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery: Your Guide to Recovery
- Ultrasound-Guided Thyroid Biopsy
- Voice and Swallowing after Thyroid Surgery
Clinical trials & research
Advances in treatments for goiters and other thyroid disorders are all thanks to medical research. While participating in research is a decision you should make in consultation with your care team, there is much activity in this field. Please ask us about our research programs if you’re interested.
By taking part in research, you can help us all learn more about goiters and other thyroid disorders. You can also help us find better ways to help people like you live and thrive. Even if you don't benefit directly, your participation can help care for future patients.
The following clinical trials are currently enrolling volunteers. Please ask your care team for more information. You can also contact the research team listed on each study or trial. For other information about research at Providence Health Care, please visit Providence Research.
Medical & professional referrals
Your family doctor or a walk-in clinic can refer you to the Thyroid Clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital.