ABSTRACT
Background: Volumetric evaluation of thyroid gland volume [TGV] is one of the criteria determining the iodine status of a population. TGV is the product of 3 dimension of each lobe: Anterio-posterior [AP] x medio-lateral [ML] x and craniocaudal [CC] x correction factor
Objectives: To determine the effect of serum TSH on thyroid dimensions of each lobe and to measure the amount of effect of per unit increase in serum TSH on thyroid dimensions of each lobe in euthyroids
Study Design: It was a cross-sectional study
Setting: The study was conducted at Ziauddin University Hospital, Clifton, Karachi. Methodology: Healthy participants aged 21 years and above were included through convenient sampling. Serum Thyroid stimulating hormone was evaluated and ultrasound of thyroid gland TG of 192 euthyroid participants was performed. Spearman correlation and regression analysis was applied to evaluate the relationship between TSH and TG dimensions
Results: Relationship of increase in serum TSH with decrease in light lobe AP dimension was most significant. [r= -0.142 P-Value=0.001] and CC dimension least significant [r= -0.0098 P-Value=0.001]. Where as in the left lobe AP dimension decreases significantly with increase serum TSH [r= -0.147 P-value=0.001]. 11.7% of total variation in AP dimension, 3.5% of total variation in ML dimension and 6.5% of total variation in CC dimension in right lobe thyroid are because of serum TSH. While 9.5% of the total variation in AP dimension in left lobe is also due to serum TSH
Conclusion: Negative and significant correlation between serum TSH and thyroid dimensions was observed. Serum TSH inversely and significantly affects all the dimensions of the right lobe and only one dimension in the left lobe
ABSTRACT
Background: Thyroid gland volume [TGV] is highly variable as it is greatly influenced by age, gender, anthropometric measurements and geographical location. It has become essential for every population to determine reference range of their normal thyroid gland volume [TGV] in healthy individuals. This in turn will help the population in grading of goiter and will guide in large scale iodine monitoring programs
Objective: To determine TGV in a subset of Karachi population and to determine its association with age and gender
Methods: A cross-sectional study employing 421 volunteers aged 21 years and above went through the ultrasound [US] examination of their thyroid gland [TG] after being confirmed euthyroid by their serum thyroid stimulating hormones [TSH] evaluation
Results: TGV in the study was found to be 6.26 +/- 2.89 ml. Males had significantly higher TGV 6.78 +/- 2.88 ml as compared to females 5.7 +/- 2.79 ml [P=0.00]. Volume of right lobe was significantly greater than that of left lobe [P=0.00] in both the genders. TGV increased significantly with age till 60 years [P<0.05] and after the age of 60 years it decreased [P=0.035]
Conclusion: Mean volume of thyroid gland in this studied population is not only smaller than that of the Western countries but is also much smaller than the neighboring country Iran. The study has also proved that there was a significant decrease in mean thyroid gland volume after the age of 60 years. Prolonged and severe iodine deficient status of Pakistan till recent past could be an answer for small thyroid gland volume in the studied population. Similar studies in future will give more accurate facts and figures regarding mean thyroid gland volume in this population if Pakistan retains itself as an iodine sufficient State
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine frequency of thyroid incidentalomas [TI] through ultrasound [US] and its association with age, gender and ethnicities. It was a cross-sectional study. Total 269 adults who were asymptomatic for thyroid disease aged 21 years and above underwent ultrasound examination of their thyroid. Frequency of TI found was 21%. TI was detected in 25% of females and 16% males [P= 0.078]. 61% had thyroid nodules [TNs] in one lobe [right, left or isthmus] and 39% had TNs in more than one location. About 55% had single TN and 45% had multiple TNs. 38% had TNs greater than 1cm while 57% had TNs smaller than 1 cm. 5% had TNs greater and smaller than 1 cm. TI was equally common in individuals of different ethinicities [P= 0.758]. Frequency of thyroid incidentalomas found in our study was higher than most of the other iodine sufficient states. Unlike other studies, incidentalomas were equally common in both the genders of our study. This may be due to the previous iodine deficient status of Pakistan which was prevalent. However further studies on the same topic will help us in identifying the correct status of thyroid incidentalomas if Pakistan retains it's status as an iodine sufficient state