[Diagnosis and treatment of benign goiter]

Although the German population is now appreciably better supplied with iodine, this is still not adequate in all regions and in all situations, e.g. during pregnancy and breast feeding. As a result, more than 20 million Germans have an iodine-deficiency goiter that requires treatment. Investigation of a goiter is effected with sonography and the determination of serum TSH. If the results indicate euthyroid diffuse goiter, medical treatment should be initiated. In recent years, the combination of thyroid hormone and iodine has proved particularly effective. In contrast to monotherapy with levothyroxine goiter recurrence after discontinuation of treatment is less common, and the combination is usually tolerated better.