The main symptom of a goitre is swelling of the thyroid gland (a gland in the neck that produces hormones) which causes a lump to develop in the throat. The lump will move up and down when you swallow.
Types of goitre
There are two different types of goitre:
- diffuse small goitre - where your entire thyroid gland swells to a larger size and feels smooth to the touch
- nodular goitre - where certain sections, or 'nodules', of your thyroid gland swell and feel lumpy to the touch
Other symptoms
Other associated symptoms of a goitre can include:
- coughing
- a tight feeling in your throat
- changes to your voice, such as hoarseness
- less commonly, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or difficultly breathing, such as a high-pitched sound when you breathe (stridor)
Thyroid gland
The thyroid gland is found in the neck. It produces hormones that are released into the bloodstream to control the body's growth and metabolism (the process that turns food into energy).
Hormones
Hormones are groups of powerful chemicals that are produced by the body and have a wide range of effects.
Nodules
A nodule is a small growth or lump of tissue.
