Symptoms of goiter
Disease description:
Recently, I noticed that both sides of my father's neck are slightly swollen, and I suspect it might be thyroid swelling. Could you please tell me what symptoms are associated with thyroid swelling?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Jiang Chenggang
Symptoms of goiter mainly include the following aspects:
1. Neck mass: When the thyroid gland enlarges, the most obvious symptom is a visible or palpable mass in the neck. These masses are typically soft in texture, mobile in position, and painless to touch.
2. Difficulty breathing: As the thyroid enlarges, it may compress the trachea, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, labored breathing, and coughing.
3. Difficulty swallowing: An enlarged thyroid can also compress the esophagus, causing difficulty when swallowing and, in some cases, even triggering vomiting.
4. Voice changes: Thyroid enlargement may compress the recurrent laryngeal nerve, resulting in hoarseness or changes in voice pitch; in severe cases, it may lead to loss of voice.
5. Other symptoms: Some patients may also experience systemic symptoms such as facial swelling, ocular changes (e.g., dilated pupils, enophthalmos), elevated body temperature, and muscle weakness.
