Goiter classification

In 1974, the international committee of thyroid pathologists published the first WHO histological classification of thyroid tumors which had served as a basis for various clinical, pathological, and epidemiological studies. Goiter may also be classified according to various classification methods based on etiological, epidemiological, anatomical, pathological, functional and morphological factors.

In 1974, an international committee of thyroid pathologists published the first WHO histological classification of thyroid tumors which had served as a basis for various clinical, pathological, and epidemiological studies.^[1]

• WHO Histological Classification of Thyroid Tumors, Second edition (1988):^[1][2]
  • Epithelial tumors
    • Benign
      • Follicular adenoma
      • Others
    • Malignant
      • Follicular carcinoma
      • Papillary carcinoma
      • Medullary carcinoma
      • Undifferentiated (anaplastic) carcinoma
      • Others
  • Nonepithelial tumors
    • Benign
    • Malignant
  • Malignant lymphomas
  • Miscellaneous tumors
  • Secondary tumors
  • Unclassified tumors
  • Tumor-like lesions

• Goiter may be also be classified according to various classification methods based on the following criteria:^{[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]}
  • Classification based on etiology
  • Classification based on epidemiology
  • Classification based on anatomy
  • Classification based on pathology
  • Classification based on function
  • Classification based on morphology

• Classification based on etiology:
  • Physiological goiter: Goiter occurring due to increased metabolic demand of thyroid hormones (during pregnancy or puberty).
  • Pathological goiter: Goiter occurring as a result of the diseases affecting the thyroid gland e.g. neoplastic or inflammatory conditions.

• Classification based on epidemiology:
  • Familial goiters: Goiter occurring as an inherited defect of thyroid hormone synthesis.
  • Endemic goiters: Thyroid enlargement observed in a significant number of population in a particular locality.
  • Sporadic goiters: Goiter occuring sporadically.

• Classification based on anatomy:
  • Cervical goiter: Goiter situated on the anterior aspect of the neck.
  • Retrosternal goiter: Goiter situated behind the sternum and extending downwards.
  • Intrathoracic goiter: Goiter extending into thoracic cavity.

• Classification based on pathology:
  • Simple goiter
  • Toxic goiter
  • Neoplastic goiter
  • Inflammatory goiter
  • Miscellaneous (other rare types)

• Classification based on function:
  • Toxic goiter: Goiter associated with thyroid hyperfunction (hyperthyroidism)
  • Non-toxic goiter: Goiter associated with thyroid hypofunction (hypothyroidism) or normal thyroid function (Euthyroid)

• Classification based on morphology:

• According to the texture of the thyroid gland:
  • Diffuse goiter
  • Nodular goiter:
    • Solitary nodular goiter
    • Multinodular goiter

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