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Toxic nodular goiter - Treatment

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.

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:

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.

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.

Thyroid enlargement - scintiscan

Thyroid gland

Reviewed last on: 6/17/2008
Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Ladenson P, Kim M. Thyroid. In: Goldman L and Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders; 2007:chap 244.

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