Abstract

A CASE STUDY ON NON-TOXIC MULTINODULAR GOITER – PATIENT MONITORING AND PATIENT COUNSELLING BY CLINICAL PHARMACISTS

Rongali Devi Nayana Priyanka*, Swarna Latha Surakala, Eppili Bhavani, Siriparapu Snehalatha, Uppada Divya and Yalla Sarah

ABSTRACT

A goiter simply means an enlarged thyroid. A goiter can either be a simple goiter where the whole thyroid is bigger than normal or a multinodular goiter where there are multiple nodules. Multinodular goiters can be either a toxic multinodular goiter (i.e. makes too much thyroid hormone and causes hyperthyroidism) or non-toxic (i.e. does not make too much thyroid hormone). Symptoms may include slowly growing neck mass, asymmetry tracheal deviation, airway obstruction, dyspnoea, cough and dysphagia. In this case study, a 50 year old female patient was admitted to hospital with a complaint of swelling over neck since 6 years. Patient was diagnosed with multinodular goiter. Total thyroidectomy was done and the nodules were removed. Patient was treated with antibiotics, multivitamins and supportive therapy. After completion of treatment, the patient was relieved from disease and as clinical pharmacists, we counselled the patient regarding the factors aggravating the disease and importance of medication adherence and importance of diet control which is a very important factor as iodine deficiency i.e; iodine intake of <50μg/day, in food and water causes goiter. The patient was advised to have a regular monitoring of thyroid levels.

Keywords: multinodular goiter, asymmetry tracheal deviation, thyroidectomy.