Thyroid status of normal pregnant women in Dhaka City.

The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones having important role in embryogenesis and fetal development during pregnancy. The present study was carried out to find out alteration in the thyroid size and serum thyroid hormonal levels (T4, T3 and TSH) in normal pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant women in Dhaka City. For this purpose, thirty-five pregnant women during third trimester attending OPD Dhaka Medical College Hospital from January 1998 to July 1998 were selected randomly and twenty-one non-pregnant women of childbearing age group were selected as control. The study revealed a high prevalence of goiter in both pregnant (34.2%) and non-pregnant women (28.5%). The study showed that the serum TT4 level of non-pregnant women was normal (mean +/- SD = 113 +/- 23 nmol/L) and the serum TT4 of pregnant mother during third trimester was significantly higher (mean +/- SD = 200 +/- 63 nmol/L, P < 0.001) compared to that of non-pregnant women. The serum TT3, levels of both pregnant and non-pregnant women were within normal range without significant difference between them. It was found that the serum TSH level of pregnant mother was within normal limit and was closely similar to that of non-pregnant women showing no significant difference between them. It can be concluded from the study that although goiter was present in a considerable number of pregnant women but they were euthyroid status as observed by increased production of serum total thyroxin (TT4) by thyroid to fulfill the maternal requirement, with nearly unchanged TT3 and TSH secretion.

Carcinoma larynx--topographical distribution.

One hundred and sixty subjects were included in our study, collected from four hospitals in Dhaka City. The mean age (+/- SD) of study subjects were 54.67 +/- 11.27 years. Out of 160 subjects 155 was males and 5 were females, and male to female ratio was 31:1. The highest number of study subjects was related to cultivation (40.62%). The majority of study subjects were from the low socio-economic status (68.72%). Carcinoma larynx is a multifactorial disease. Smoking and chewing habit are the most important factors associated with carcinoma larynx. Most of the male (93.12%) subjects were smoker. One hundred and fifteen (71.87%) subjects were found chewing habit of betel leaves with other ingredients. Hoarseness of voice was the commonest symptom 65.62%. Regional distribution of tumour showed supraglottic carcinoma topping the list (69.38%) followed by glottic carcinoma (30.62%) and there was no subglottic carcinoma. Site involvement in supraglottic carcinoma was found in combined location topping the list (89.20%). In glottic carcinoma majority was found glottic with supraglottic extension (65.31%). In majority cases growth were exophytic 52.50%. Palpable lymph mode was found in 48.75% of cases. All the carcinoma of larynx was found histologically of squamous cell type.