Toxic nodular goiter

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Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan

Thyroid gland

Toxic multinodular goiter; Plummer's disease

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.

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.

Heart complications:

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• Atrial fibrillation
• Congestive heart failure
• Rapid heart rate

Other complications:

• Bone loss leading to osteoporosis

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.

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).