What causes a thyroid goiter?
Having too little or no iodine in your diet is the most common cause of a thyroid goiter. A thyroid goiter may also be caused by the following: • Diseases: • Autoimmune: Autoimmune thyroid disorders include Graves and Hashimoto’s disease. They happen when the immune system attacks your thyroid gland. The immune system is your body’s defense system against infections and diseases. A problem with the immune system may make your body attack even its own cells, including your thyroid gland. When this happens, the cells of the thyroid gland increase in number and do not work properly. • Other diseases: These include other thyroid disorders such as cancer, Plummer’s disease, Riedel’s thyroiditis, and subacute thyroiditis. A thyroid goiter may also be caused by one or more nodules (lumps) or cysts in your thyroid. Ask your caregiver for more information about these diseases. • Inherited: Thyroid goiter may be passed on from parents to their children through their genes. Genes are little piece
