Frequently asked question: Can you be born with a thyroid gland enlargement?

Thyroid gland enlargement may be present at birth, but it can also develop later on. A thyroid gland that is too large at birth may be caused by:

Genetic abnormalities, which result in defective thyroid hormone synthesis (dyshormonogenesis, seen with CH, among others).
Substances that enter the fetus via the placenta, for example antibodies from a mother with an auto-immune thyroid disorder or antithyroid medication.

Goiter that develops during childhood may be caused by:

Thyroid gland inflammation (auto-immune: Hashimoto's thyroiditis; bacterial: acute thyroiditis; viral/post-viral: subacute thyroiditis).
Spontaneous presentation with normal thyroid function (nontoxic goiter).
Graves' disease.
Too low intake of iodine (no longer occurs in Western countries), too high intake of iodine (via medication), or exceptional medicines, such as lithium or amiodarone.
Infiltrative growth in which other tissues grow into the thyroid gland tissue (for example, histiocytosis X, lymphoma).
Formation of a nodule or nodules (thyroid adenoma or carcinoma) or cysts.

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