Another type, called toxic nodular goiter, results when one or
more nodules, or adenomas, develop in the thyroid and trigger
excess production of thyroid hormone. In short, a goiter is any
enlargement of the thyroid gland. A goiter may be a temporary
problem that will remedy itself over time without medical
intervention, or a symptom of another, possibly severe, thyroid
condition that requires medical attention. What Causes a Goiter?
Goiters can occur when the thyroid gland produces either too
much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or not enough
(hypothyroidism). Much more rarely, the problem may arise when
the pituitary gland stimulates thyroid growth to boost
production of the hormone. Enlargement could also occur with
normal production of thyroid hormone, such as a nontoxic
multinodular gland. Another type of thyroid growth, called a
sporadic goiter, can form if your diet includes too many goiter-
promoting foods, such as soybeans, rutabagas, cabbage, peaches,
peanuts, and spinach. Keep in mind you would ha