Colloid Goitre: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Colloid goiter is also known as struma and thyromegaly.

Goiter is considered to be the enlargement of the thyroid gland. It appears as a large bulge around the neck region and is mostly common in adult individuals above the age of 30. If there is an excess imbalance of the thyroid gland in the body, it is indicated by the swelling through the neck which disables the individual from carrying out activities from the mouth and neck. Difficulties occur during swallowing food and the person may also not be able to speak properly till the swelling is minimized to a therapeutic level.

It is important to know that the presence of a goiter does not necessarily mean that the thyroid gland is malfunctioning. A goiter can occur in a gland that is producing too much hormone (hyperthyroidism), too little hormone (hypothyroidism), or the correct amount of hormone (euthyroidism). A goiter indicates there is a condition present which is causing the thyroid to grow abnormally. This condition mainly occurs due to iodine deficiency for which certain supplements are prescribed to elevate the iodine levels in your body. This condition also leaves certain cysts in the affected areas which cause the swelling and in severe condition surgery is required to remove these cysts.

The treatment for goiter depends upon the size of the swelling. Your doctor may perform a hormone test to see the amounts of hormones produced by your thyroid and pituitary gland. If the levels are too low or too high, this is likely the cause of the goiter. Blood will be drawn and sent to a lab.

An antibody test might be performed, as abnormal antibodies can cause goiters. This is done through blood tests.

A thyroid scan might also be performed. A radioactive isotope is injected into the vein in your elbow and you then lie on the table. A camera produces images of your thyroid on a computer screen, providing information about what's causing the goiter. The treatment procedure often starts with certain tests that check the severity of the condition that you are facing. Certain thyroid hormone therapies are advised to cure the swelling and the symptoms that you are facing. These thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH) helps your affected thyroid glands to recover. Your medical expert might restrict you from consuming certain solid foods and you should be on a liquid diet. In severe cases where you cannot swallow food a feeding tube is inserted through the nostrils and inserted directly into your stomach.

Any individual suffering through this condition can undergo the treatment for goiter which causes you to have a swollen neck and discomfort and pain associated with it.

Goiter becomes a risk for children or pregnant women and has to be carried out effectively to avoid side affects and further symptoms.

Progressive thyroid enlargement or the development of hardened nodules may indicate thyroid malignancy (cancer). If there is a single, dominant nodule or if a nodule is enlarging, a fine needle biopsy should be performed to exclude malignancy.

A simple goiter may progress to a toxic nodular goiter.

Medications such as amiodarone and lithium can affect thyroid function.

The prognosis for goiter is good with treatment. If a goiter is persistent, it may become toxic.The patient has to take extensive care and try and reduce his or her thyroid symptoms via medication to alleviate the symptoms.

The time for recovery for goiter depends upon its severity. If it is a mild one, treatment can be done by iodine reducing medication. If it is a severe goiter that has become toxic and producing excess thyroid hormone, the time for recovery extends for about a few months or so.

Goiter can be treated in India via medications or surgery, depending upon its severity. Medication starts from around Rs. 15,000 which includes iodine reducing tablets and thyroid controlling effectiveness. However, if the goiter is enlarged to an extent where it becomes toxic, it has to be surgically treated which can cost about Rs. 70,000-Rs. 75,000.

The treatment helps in reducing the thyroid content of the body and is hence semi permanent. Unless the thyroid of the body is brought down to a minimum, goiter can be persistent and is hence semi permanent.