Definition

Noun: A medical condition characterized by an abnormally enlarged thyroid gland, which is located in the neck. This enlargement can result from various causes, including underproduction (hypothyroidism) or overproduction (hyperthyroidism) of thyroid hormone, or from a deficiency of iodine in the diet.

Examples of Usage

• The doctor diagnosed the patient with a goitre after noticing a significant swelling at the base of her neck.
• Iodine deficiency was once a common cause of goitre in many parts of the world.
• Not all thyroid enlargements are simple goitres; some require further investigation to rule out other conditions.

Advanced Usage

• Exophthalmic goitre: This is an older term, largely synonymous with Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disorder causing hyperthyroidism and is often accompanied by protruding eyes (exophthalmos).
  • The patient's symptoms, including rapid heartbeat and eye protrusion, were consistent with exophthalmic goitre.

Variants and Related Words

• Goiter: The American English spelling of the word.
• Goitrous (adjective): Pertaining to or affected with a goitre.
  • The region had a high prevalence of goitrous individuals before iodine was added to salt.

Synonyms

• Thyromegaly: The medical term for an enlarged thyroid gland.
• Enlarged thyroid: A descriptive, non-technical synonym.

Related Terms and Concepts

• Thyroid gland: The butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the neck that the term "goitre" describes as enlarged.
• Iodine deficiency: A primary nutritional cause of goitre, leading to the gland's enlargement as it attempts to produce sufficient hormones.
• Hypothyroidism: A condition of underactive thyroid function, which can cause a goitre.
• Hyperthyroidism: A condition of overactive thyroid function, which can also cause a goitre.

Noun

1. abnormally enlarged thyroid gland; can result from underproduction or overproduction of hormone or from a deficiency of iodine in the diet