goiter

[lamy]

I have a family history of graves.I test myself once a year for thyroid antibodies-so far its always negative.Although sometimes i get a pain in my neck-usually on the sides where your cervical glands would be.Is it possoble this could be from my thyroid?Should i be concerned?i dont have a goiter -but are people who have them who dont have any thyroid problems more at risk to develop thyroid disorders?(For example women who develop goiters due to pregnancy)Thank you

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

In most cases the "cervical glands" are not related to the thyroid.  A goiter is a thyroid problem and I would think such a history should prompt more frequent (ie yearly) screening for thyroid dysfunction.  In your case, an ultrasound may be interesting if done/read by someone familiar with changes seen in autoimmune thyroid disease -- these changes may be seen before there is a detectable increase in thyroid antibodies.  The goiter of pregnancy has been described for centuries - it seems to be more common in antibody positive women.  I presume you live in part of the world that isn't iodine deficient -- this is also a common problem  causing goiter worldwide but not in North America.

[lamy]

so your saying it is possible to have a goiter without testing possitive for antibodies?What about thyroid symptoms -can you have them aso without tesing possitive?

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

yes, goiter without antibodies is common.  Symptoms with normal thyroid function is also common - as these symptoms are not specific to the thyroid and can have other causes.