what causes the thyroid gland to enlarge
Even when it's enlarged, your thyroid may produce normal amounts of hormones. It might also, however, produce too much or too little thyroxine and T-3. A number of factors can cause your thyroid gland to enlarge.Among the most common are: Iodine deficiency. Iodine, which is essential for the production of thyroid hormones, is found primarily in seawater and in the soil in coastal areas. Cancer of the thyroid often appears as an enlargement on one side of the thyroid. 2  Pregnancy. 3  A hormone produced during pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), may cause your thyroid gland to enlarge slightly. 4  Inflammation.