Non-toxic nodular goiter is the enlargement of the thyroid gland due to the appearance of one or more nodules, without affecting thyroid hormone levels. It affects between 4% and 7% of the population.
Non-toxic multinodular goiter
The thyroid gland needs iodine to produce hormones. If there is not enough, the gland enlarges to try to compensate for this deficiency, so the development of non-toxic goiter is related to iodine deficiency in the diet (starting as a simple goiter). In addition, there are also several factors that contribute to its development, such as having a family history of goiter, exposure to ionizing radiation, regular intake of goitrogenic substances (cassava, soy, cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower, among others), or the consumption of certain medications.
Symptoms
In most cases, non-toxic multinodular goiter only produces the appearance of a palpable lump in the anterior region of the neck, which may be accompanied by difficulty swallowing, breathing, or recurrent hoarseness. The natural tendency is towards slow growth.
Prevention
One of the best ways to prevent the occurrence of goiter is to avoid iodine deficiency, for example, by using iodized salt to season food. Additionally, supplements containing this compound can be taken during times of higher requirement such as pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Number of observed variants
13.5 million variants
Number of risk loci
22 loci
Genes analyzed
Bibliography
FinnGen. FinnGen Documentation of R6 release 2022 [2022/01]
Unlu MT, Kostek M, Aygun N, Isgor A, Uludag M. Non-Toxic Multinodular Goiter: From Etiopathogenesis to Treatment. Sisli Etfal Hastan Tip Bul. 2022 Mar 28;56(1):21-40.
Alkabban FM, Patel BC. Nontoxic Goiter. [Updated 2023 Aug 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-.