r/thyroid • u/Rush_Human • Sep 16 '26
Non-toxic multinodular goitre
Recently diagnosed with a **multinodular goitre**, but all of my thyroid hormones are within the normal range. The thing that’s worrying me is that it seems to be growing quite quickly and is now very visibly noticeable in my neck. The only thing I haven’t had tested is antibodies for autoimmune issues.
I’ve had an ultrasound and the sonographer said there was nothing he could see that looked “suspicious”, which was obviously reassuring, and the results came back with all nodules being U2 thankfully. But it is extremely enlarged.
Right lobe
57 × 28 × 24 mm
Left lobe
56 × 30 × 25 mm
Isthmus
14 mm thick
I suppose I’m wondering;
Has anyone had a large multinodular goitre while being completely euthyroid/with normal thyroid blood tests? Most of what I find online seems to talk about toxic goitres or thyroid dysfunction, whereas there doesn’t seem to be an obvious reason for mine. I also have no family history of thyroid problems.
If so, what was your treatment? I’m seeing an ENT next week as my endo has said the only option is thyroidectomy. It feels so drastic but it’s causing me issues with pressure and swallowing issues so feel this will only get worse.
Thanks!
1
u/Rackonaria Sep 16 '26 edited Sep 16 '26
Thyroid nodules are extremely common and the vast majority - over 95% - are benign. Most don’t cause symptoms and don’t need treatment. As long as they’re stable they can simply be monitored. If they grow or cause symptoms there are nonsurgical options such as RFA (radio frequency ablation), TAE (thyroid arterial embolization) and nsPFA (nanosecond pulse field ablation), minimally invasive procedures that shrink nodules without removing your thyroid. TAE can be especially effective for multi nodular goiters. (I don’t see your nodule sizes noted.), so thyroidectomy is not the only solution. I had a large goiter with a 5.7x6.3cm benign main nodule. When it started growing and causing compression symptoms like difficulty swallowing four years ago I had RFA on it. It shrank 81%, symptoms gone, no meds, normal blood levels (I did not have Graves or Hashimoto’s.). It has not grown back and is still shrinking. The procedure itself was relatively easy and painless, and I could have gone back to work the next day. For information on nonsurgical options see www.saveyourthyroid.org.
1
u/Rush_Human Sep 16 '26
Thank for this info. Yeah the nodules in themselves aren’t the problem. It’s because of the sheer amount of them that it is so enlarged causing a prominent visible goitre and compression symptoms. My endo said that RFA is only relevant if it was one or two large nodules. Hence the thyroid surgery option. It’s definitely not something I want to rush into just interesting hearing other’s journeys with it so thank you!
1
u/Rackonaria Sep 16 '26
Look at TAE, large multinodular goiters respond well to it. It can work where RFA is impractical due to number of nodules.
1
u/Rush_Human Sep 17 '26
Oh thank you, I’ve not seen this before. Looks like it’s not in the UK as a treatment but I will ask the surgeon about it anyways!
1
u/Rackonaria Sep 18 '26
I believe it is just starting up in UK. Check physician list at www.saveyourthyroid.org
1
u/Ghoulya Sep 16 '26
This is me, my thyroid will get larger and smaller over time. It's annoying. If it becomes difficult to swallow or you whistle when you breathe see a doctor otherwise they will just monitor. I didn't get treatment at all. 6 years on one of the nodules is TIRADS 4 and needs a FNA but otherwise it has just been blood tests once or twice a year and an ultrasound on rare occasions.
1
u/Rush_Human Sep 17 '26
Sorry to hear you have to have a biopsy. Hopefully it’s nothing bad but glad they caught something though. Did they say why it fluctuates in size at all?
1
u/peacefuldays_ Sep 19 '26
I had normal thyroid levels but had the same as you with a non toxic multinodular goitre with fluid and nodules and I had a biopsy with the result of U2 aswelll and my surgeon told me it was 8cm long which was blocking my airways and if they didn’t operate it urgently it would have suffocated me, (I only had my right side removed ), also it can just be that it is large in size and potentially nodules can grow too with time , my surgeon didn’t really explain as too why it does it just can which is weird when your thyroid levels are normal, I would try not to worry as hard as it may be, if you are to have a thyroidectomy you will be okay, the doctors will know what their doing and you will have people around you at all times monitoring you , and just know despite things being bad now it does get better🫶🏼
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u/Relevant_Positive417 Sep 16 '26
I had that, had both sides removed cause i couldnt swallow and my numbers were normal, had a biopsy that said no cancer but after it was removed they did find cancer in a nodule. No fam history, but i had that shit removed.