1 Goiter can be the result of thyroid tumors, which are usually benign, but sometimes malignant. 2  Most thyroid tumors present as discrete nodules, but there are several kinds of thyroid cancer that can cause generalized swelling of the gland.
http://endocrine.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/goiter.aspx
Enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) and lumps within it (nodules) are both relatively common. They may be obvious to the naked eye or can be found incidentally by imaging studies of the neck, such as a sonogram of the carotid arteries or a CT or MR of the spine.
http://endocrine.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/goiter.aspx
Surgical intervention is most often the appropriate treatment for substernal goiter. In cases of apparently benign thyroid disease, the surgery should include the removal of the substernal component and other thyroid tissue responsible for obstructive symptoms. Thus, when possible, surgery can be limited to the removal of a single lobe and the isthmus.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2051665-overview
When the presence and degree to which a goiter has substernal extension is unknown, CT scanning or MRI of the neck and chest can help assess both the need for surgery and preoperative planning. If CT scanning is performed, a scan without contrast is recommended by many.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2051665-overview
In some developing countries in which iodine deficiency is severe, up to one third of a population can be affected by goiters. Studies of chest radiographic screenings in Australia and the United States suggest substernal goiter may occur in approximately 0.02% of the population.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2051665-overview
When this occurs, thyroidectomy surgery (excision of part or all of the thyroid gland) has unique considerations that are important to understand for the surgeon and patient. This article reviews substernal goiter and focuses on substernal thyroidectomy.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2051665-overview
People with this category of nodule usually need no surgery and can be seen by their doctor periodically to sure their goiter or nodule is not progressively enlarging. Third, the biopsy can strongly suggest the presence of thyroid cancer.
http://endocrine.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/goiter.aspx
A multi-nodular goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland with a goiter comprised of multiple thyroid nodules. The nodules can be very small (often only a few millimeters in size) or a larger size (several centimeters) and there is often a dominant nodule.
http://endocrine.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/goiter.aspx
There are two conditions that cause goiter: (i) the thyroid gland producing too much hormones -- hyperthyroidism; or (ii) thyroid gland producing too less hormones -- hypothyroidism. There are different types of goiter -- simple, hereditary, and those occurring due to different causes. Complete or partial removal of thyroid gland is called goiter surgery, mostly known as thyroidectomy. The enlarged thyroid gland that presses the other structures of the throat is removed in the surgery. This is a very simple and safe procedure carried out under anesthesia.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/goiter-surgery.html
Thyroid surgery can remove one-half (thyroid lobectomy or hemi-thyroidectomy) or all of the thyroid gland (total thyroidectomy) to establish with certainty whether a goiter or nodule is cancer or not.
http://endocrine.surgery.ucsf.edu/conditions--procedures/goiter.aspx
what types of goiter requires surgery
Substernal goiter is the type of goiter which requires surgery. Substernal goiter requires surgery.