Whether a goiter needs treatment depends on the answers to the three key clinical questions. If the thyroid is so large as to cause symptoms by stretching or compressing adjacent structures, or if it is so big as to be unsightly, surgical removal of the thyroid gland (thyroidectomy) may be required.

When should a goiter be removed?

Removing all or part of your thyroid gland is an option if you have a large goiter that is uncomfortable or causes difficulty breathing or swallowing or, in some cases, if the goiter is causing hyperthyroidism.

Can goiter turn into cancer?

The highest risk of cancer was found in toxic nodular goiter (18%) and the lowest risk in Graves' disease (6%). This study suggests that the risk of thyroid cancer in patients with multiple nodules is high as nearly one in five patients with multiple nodules had thyroid cancer.