Endocrine Abstracts

Objective: Aim of the study was to investigate the spectrum and prevelance of goiter and thyroidal diseases by ultrasonography in moderately iodine deficient area.

The MELEN study is a prospectively designed survey on the prevalence of cardio metabolic risk factors and thyroid diseases in Turkish adults. A total of 2298 subjects with a mean age of 50 (age range 18–92) were interviewed. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed and interpreted by the same experienced physician, using the same equipment with a 5–12-MHz linear-array transducer. Goiter prevalence was defined according to Gutekunst’s criteria. After an overnight fast, blood samples were collected from all the study subjects for the determination of serum free thyroxine, TSH were measured.

Results: The rate of goiter showed a significant female predominance (35% in women and 23% in men, P<0.001). According to ultrasonographic examination, the most common thyroid disease was multinodular goiter (MNG; 42%), followed by nodular goiter (NG; 14.6%). Taking into account that subjects had been operated possibly due to NG/MNG, the crude prevalence of nodular disease in the region reached up to 65%. The rate of normal thyroid gland was only 27.4%. According to TSH values, thyrotoxicosis (TSH <0.35 μIU/ml) rate was 12.9% and subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.5 μIU/ml) rate was 7.1%.

Conclusion: In an iodine-deficient community, a progressive increase with age in goiter prevalence, thyroid nodularity, and functional autonomy was observed. Thyrotoxicosis and nodular thyroidal diseases are more important and predominant thyroid diseases.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.