Medical Health Encyclopedia

Toxic nodular goiter


InjuryDiseasesNutritionPoison
SymptomsSurgeryTestSpecial Topic
Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan
Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan
Thyroid gland
Thyroid gland
Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention
Alternative Names

Toxic multinodular goiter; Plummer's disease


Treatment

Treatments include:

  • Antithyroid drugs (propylthiouracil, methimazole)
  • Radioactive iodine
  • Surgery

Beta blockers (propranolol) can control some of the symptoms of hyperthyroidism until thyroid hormone levels in the body are under control.


Support Groups


Expectations (prognosis)

Because toxic nodular goiter is mainly a disease of the elderly, other chronic health problems may influence the outcome of this condition. The elderly person may be less able to tolerate the effect of hyperthyroidism on the heart.


Complications

Heart complications:




Other complications:

Thyroid crisis or storm is an acute worsening of hyperthyroidism symptoms. It may occur with infection or stress. Thyroid crisis may cause:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Decreased mental alertness
  • Fever

Immediate hospitalization is necessary.

Complications of having a very large goiter may include difficulty breathing. This is due to pressure on the airway passage that lies behind the thyroid.


Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of this disorder. Follow the health care provider's recommendations for follow-up visits.



Review Date: 05/10/2010
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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