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Introduction: During the history of internal medicine Goiter has always been at the center of attention as one of the most important endemic disorders. It is estimated that about one billion people around the globe are affected with Goiter. Iran is recognized as an cndemic area for Goiter. The aim of this study was to reveal the pattern of distribution of different thyroid disorders in-patients with Goiter in Markazi Province.
Material and methods: It was a descriptive-cross-sectional study that enrolled 2138 patients with Goiter who were selected randomly and by categorized sampling (F=1542, M=596) TSH serum titers were checked for screening and if abnormal, detailed thyroid function tests were done. We used Radon ELISA Kits previously checked with RIA in our study. Patients were first examined for Goiter and graded if Goiter was found, and if it was nodular, the patient was referred for sonography, thyroid scan and FNA. Then the patients were further evaluated based on clinical findings and laboratory results for various thyroid disorders.
Results: In this study we evaluated 2138 pts with Goiter (72% (1542)=F, 28% (596)=M) from which 83.1% had a simple Goiter, 6.94% were hypothyroid, 3.36% had subclinical hypothyroidism. 4.8% were hypothyroid, and 1.17% had subclinical hypothyroidism.
13 pts (0.7%) had nodular Goiter that in one case it was diagnosed as papillary carcinoma. Three patients had coid nodules and the rest had multiple warm nodular or diffuse Goiters. In 44.3% of cases Goiter was in grade IA and in 34% cases it was graded as IB. Goiter was the most prevalence (32.5%) in 10-19 age group and it was least prevalence (2.1%) in pts over 70.
Conclusion: Goiter is endemic in Markazi Province, but its prevalence in the children of recent decade is declining and in previous decades, clinical and subclinical forms of hypothyroidism and hypothyroidism are more prevalent.

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  Introduction: Markazi province was one of the regions with endemic goiter in Iran. Following initiation of iodine deficiency control program in 1989, production, distribution and consumption of iodized salt begun. This survey was conducted in the frame work of national monitoring survey in 2001 to find the prevalence of goiter and urinary iodine level in order to evaluate the iodine status of school age children in Markazi province.

  Materials and Methods: 1200 school children (600 boys and 600 girls), aged 7-10 years, were selected randomly from all regions of Markazi province. The grade of Goiter was determined according to WHO classification and urinary iodine content was estimated using the digestion method in one tenth of the these children. Data was analyzed using T, Chi square and Pearson tests.

  Results: Total Goiter rate was 4.4% (4.4% in girls and 4.4% in boys). Urinary iodine median was 16.7 µg/dl. Urinary iodine was above 10 µg/dl in 81.2% and less than 5 µg/dl in 9.2% of samples. No one had urinary iodine below 2 µg/dl.

  Conclusion: It is concluded that the rate of Goiter in Markazi province has decreased significantly since 1986 and urinary iodine levels in school children are indicative of adequate iodine intake. Therefore Markazi province can be considered as an “iodine deficiency free” zone.