[Adenomatous goiter--concept, etiology, treatment]

Adenomatous goiter has an accompanying tumor formation due to the overgrowth of the cells of the thyroid tissue. The tumor formation may be single or multiple. In Japan which is iodine-rich country, adenomatous goiter is not so much concerned because its incidence is relatively low and fundamentally benign disease. However, it has various interesting aspects or problems including the etiology of goiter or nodules, the progression to functioning nodules or non-functioning nodules, the development of cancer, thyroid hormone synthesis and therapeutic problems etc. We have to be more interested in this disease.