QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THYROID GLAND VOLUME AMONG THE ETHNIC GROUPS OF KARACHI POPULATION

Abstract

Objectives:

Thyroid gland volume varies from population to population. In this study mean thyroid gland volume among the ethnic groups in Karachi population was determined.

Methods:

A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out in the Radiology Department of Ziauddin University Hospital Clifton Karachi, from January 2013 to in May 2014. Healthy subjects aged 21 years and above were recruited through convenient sampling. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone was evaluated in order to recruit euthyroid subjects. Ultrasonography of 416 euthyroid subjects was performed to determine the thyroid gland volume.

Results:

Mean thyroid volumes reported were as follow: In Urdu speaking it was reported to be 5.47± 2.29 ml, in Sindhi 6.44 ± 3.23ml, in Pathan 6.52 ± 3.07ml, in Punjabi 7.02 ± 4.28ml, in Hazarah 7.05 ±3.91ml and in Balochi7.56 ± 4.52ml. Mean thyroid volumes were significantly different among all the ethnic groups (P-Value 0.015).

Conclusion:

Mean total thyroid gland volumes, right and left lobe volumes were found to be significantly different among the ethnic groups that exist in Karachi population. Long term variations in the level of intake of iodine among the ethnic groups may have resulted alterations in genotype that probably has resulted in significant variation in the mean TGV among the ethnic groups.