Prevalence of Thyroid Defects in Diyala, Iraq

Abstract

Thyroid disorders are associated with the abnormalities occur in thyroid hormone concentration and imbalancein their regulation may causes life threatening diseases. Thus, the present study was planned to establish theprevalence of thyroid defects in Diyala, Iraq due to paucity of information is available in our region. Total67 subjects in the age range of 20-80 years were recruited in Al - Shafa hospital, Diyala, Iraq, sufferingfrom thyroid disorders or suspected with the symptoms favoring thyroid diseases. Thyroid function test andphysical examination were performed. Those who were found alteration in thyroid hormones and presenceof nodules, further investigation like FNAC of neck was performed for the diagnosis. Once confirmation ofthyroid defect, total thyroidectomy was performed as a first line of treatment and malignancy was confirmedusing histopathology analysis. The incidence of thyroid diseases in female (86.57%) was found to be morethan male (13.43%) and there ratio was 19.3:3. The thyroid defects incident rate was highest in mean 49years age. Almost 61.2% patients were found affected by thyroid disorders in this age group. The largestnumber of patients (64.18%) had shown MNG, then other thyroid defects out of which 4 female patientspresented very big thyroid multinodular goiter (MNG). Among 43 MNG patients, 86% patients were femaleand 4% were male. Of the 67 cytologically diagnosed cases, 79.10% cases were found benign cases whichare highest among all other types, out of which 91% cases were female. Among the thyroid disorder burdenof thyroid carcinoma is very high and common in the enrolled patients in Diyala, further longitudinal studiesare required to explore the prognosis and causes of these thyroid defects in the Iraq.