Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Different nutritional and environmental factors are responsible for pathogenesis of goiter but iodine deficiency is the most important factor. However, little is known about the natural course of benign thyroid nodules in euthyroid patients over time. Few studies have used ultrasonographic evaluation to address this issue, especially in iodine-deficient areas. In this study, we present the long-term follow-up of benign thyroid nodules in a moderately iodine-deficient area.

Material and methods: This study included 62 randomly selected patients with benign euthyroid nodular goiter and thyroid volume and nodularity were measured with ultrasonography. Iodine intake was estimated by patient diet history and by measuring iodine excretion in spot urine samples. Patients were followed 1 year.

Results: Patients were divided into 3 groups according to level of urine iodine excretion: i) Lower than 50 μg/l (severe iodine deficiency group), ii) 50–100 μg/l, iii) Higher 100 μg/l. Additional disease existency and percentage of smoking were statistical significantly high in first group compared to second and third group. Between groups no significant difference observed in both right and left thyroid lobe volume. Clinically significant increase in nodule volume was observed in the first group, on the other hand there is statistically significant decrease in the second and third group.

Conclusion: This study has shown the significance of iodine deficiency and detection of this situation by measuring urine iodine excretion and also it has shown that significance of iodine deficiency and smoking, additional disease existency and diet have found to be related with iodine status of the body. We thought that increased level of smoking and additional disease existency may have caused iodine intake difference in same area. So that patients with thyroid nodule related with iodine deficiency can be evaluated and if this needed iodine supplementation can be recomended by iodine rich diet.