A histopathological analysis of thyroid diseases in Ile-ife, Nigeria. a review of 274 cases

OBJECTIVE: To describe the spectrum of histopathological features of thyroid diseases; analyse the occurrence of each of the types and to compare the findings with those from previous studies done in Nigeria and elsewhere. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of thyroid lesions seen at the OAUTHC Histopathology Department during a 10-year period between 1988 and 1997. RESULTS: The 274 surgical thyroid specimens received during the study period came from 235 (85.8%) females and 39 (14.2%) males giving a female: male ratio of 6:1. Colloid goiter accounted for about 75% of cases with an average age of occurrence of 40.7 years. Only 1.8% showed features of toxic goiter and thyroiditis each. The adenomas constituted about 6% while carcinomas constituted about 11% of cases respectively. Adenomas occurred almost a decade earlier than carcinomas. Follicular carcinoma was the commonest thyroid cancer seen in this study. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the commonest thyroid disease in Ile-Ife is colloid goiter, which is a preventable disease. Thus, public health measures such as iodination of salt and health education are called for to reduce the occurrence of this disease.