Endocrine Abstracts

The increase in thyroid disease frequency has been observed recently. It may be attributed to the changing iodine status, endocrine disruptors, as well as better availability of ultrasound and laboratory tests. The aim of the study was to assess the occurrence of newly recognized thyroid diseases during long-term follow-up.

Material and methods: Study was carried out in 2010–2012 in Krakow area. It included 266 patients aged 23–81 years (168 females and 98 males) out of 548 subjects with no thyroid diseases detected during previous survey (1997–1999). In each patient thyroid ultrasound was performed, and TSH, FT₄, and ATPO levels were assessed.

Results: During 13 years primary hypothyroidism requiring treatment with levothyroxine was detected in 29 subjects (10.9%). In additional 13 cases subclinical hypothyroidism was recognised (4.9%). Elevated titer of ATPO antibodies was detected in 40 subjects (15%). Two subjects had already been treated with radioactive iodine due to hyperthyroidism. The new case of hyperthyroidism was diagnosed in one person during the survey. In two subjects thyroidectomy had been performed during 13 years preceding the study (including one case of differentiated thyroid cancer). In 112 (42.8%) of studied persons (45.5% of females and 38.1% of males) nodular goiter was recognized: solitary nodule in 19.1% and multinodular goiter in 23.7%. In one male papillary thyroid cancer was detected.

Conclusions: During about 10-year follow-up new thyroid pathology may be detected in up to 50% of studied population.

Disclosure: This work was supperted by Jagiellonian University Medical College grant.