Question 1

can a goiter shrink without surgery?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes: If the goiter is due to low thyroid hormone levels, taking thyroid hormone tablets may allow the goiter to shrink, but does not always.  If the goiter is due to a condition causing it to make too much thyroid hormone, then treating that condition with medications or radioactive iodine-131 might also shrink it.

Question 2

how to shrink multinodular goiter without surgery?

Accepted Answer

Goiter/FNA: The cause of your goiter determines the possible therapies and yes it can be treated medically. Overall size, compression, response to medical therapy, fna biopsy, cancer are important so work with your team of docs. A surgery consult can give you lots of information about the risk/benefit of therapy with surgery. You have choices, good luck.

Question 3

my brother has had, in the past, 3 heart attacks. he has a very large goiter and his heart doctor does not want him to have surgery. how to shrink it?

Accepted Answer

Sounds like: Heart disease is a much bigger issue than the goiter.  In the period of time after an mi, all elective surgery is deferred due to the additional stress on the patient.  There are medical options to "shrink it" but it is likely not necessary.

Question 4

when will goiter surgery be necessary?

Accepted Answer

Size: If the thyroid enlarges enough that it starts to cause swallowing difficulties, speaking difficulties, or breathing difficulties. Usually do not want to wait until the symptoms listed above are severe, or if it is so large that the surgery becomes more difficult.

Question 5

alternatives to surgery for multinodular goiters?

Accepted Answer

Wait and watch: If there are no symptoms and no suspicious nodule, i would suggest the question should be the other way around.  Are there any good alternatives to watching and waiting?  No.

Question 6

can goiter come bak after surgery?

Accepted Answer

Recurrent goiter: Hello, if you have a partial thyroidectomy, then a goiter could occur in the remaining portion of your thyroid.

Question 7

do i need surgery for colloid goiter?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Surgical indication for thyroid is based on size of the goiter, symptoms of obstruction, and the fna diagnosis. There are times when surgery is a benefit, best to take family/friend with you to surgery consult. In many cases medical therapy and observation is all that is needed.

Question 8

why are my doctors so hesitant to give me a 2nd goiter surgery?

Accepted Answer

More complications: I can't tell you about your specific situation, but in general, someone who has had prior thyroid surgery will have a lot of scarring or fibrosis in the area.  This greatly increases the risk of damage to the parathyroid glands that control calcium metabolism, or to nerves that control the vocal cords and speaking voice in a second surgery.

Question 9

i have multinodular goiters only one has changed enlarged x2 within 6 months. fnb neg. also have hashimotoes  some minor compression.surgery or watch?

Accepted Answer

On right course: Your are already on right path, your doctor is following you in a correct way, your chances of being malignant is slight, your doctor already did fna biopsy to make sure it it is not malignant , you have no air way obstruction, no rush to go for surgery , right now.

Question 10

is surgery the only way to remove multinodular goiters in hashimotoes thyroidis?

Accepted Answer

Yes: A multinodular  goiter secondary to hashimoto's thyroiditis will likely decrease or stop functioning over time, but the bulkiness of the goiter does not usually become smaller. If the goiter is compressive and causes difficulty with swallowing or breathing, it should be surgically removed. Medical therapy is available to suppress the goiter and also to treat the hashimoto's.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Can a goiter shrink without surgery

A member asked:

Can a goiter shrink without surgery?

A member asked:

How to shrink multinodular goiter without surgery?

A member asked:

My brother has had, in the past, 3 heart attacks. he has a very large goiter and his heart doctor does not want him to have surgery. how to shrink it?

A member asked:

When will goiter surgery be necessary?

A member asked:

Alternatives to surgery for multinodular goiters?

A member asked:

Can goiter come bak after surgery?

A member asked:

Do i need surgery for colloid goiter?

A member asked:

Why are my doctors so hesitant to give me a 2nd goiter surgery?

A member asked:

I have multinodular goiters only one has changed enlarged x2 within 6 months. fnb neg. also have hashimotoes some minor compression.surgery or watch?

A member asked:

Is surgery the only way to remove multinodular goiters in hashimotoes thyroidis?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?