Usually benign, thyroid enlargement can lead to nodules in the neck or a goitre, a swelling at the front of the neck, sometimes just on one side of the throat.[^7,8]

The main causes are due to a condition causing an underactive or overactive thyroid, but it also can be due to inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis), hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy or menopause) or lack of dietary iodine.[⁸]

Sometimes a goitre can be so large it may make breathing and swallowing difficult which may require surgery to remove some of the thyroid if it has not responded to other treatments.

Much less commonly, a goitre can be due occur due to cancer.[^7,8]