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An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
Published on: June 6, 2014
A postmortem study on the volume of the human thyroid gland
A S M Nurunnabi1, S Ara, M U Jahan
1Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka.
Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin
|May 2, 2012
Summary
Thyroid gland volume in Bangladeshi adults shows no sex-based difference. However, gland size changes with age, increasing until 50 years and then declining.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Endocrinology
- Forensic Medicine
Background:
- Thyroid gland volume variations are influenced by numerous factors, including age and sex.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for accurate medical assessments and comparisons across populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the mean volume of the thyroid gland in Bangladeshi individuals.
- To investigate the relationship between thyroid gland volume, age, and sex.
- To compare findings with existing local and international studies.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 60 post-mortem human thyroid glands (39 male, 21 female).
- Samples were collected from unclaimed bodies at Dhaka Medical College.
- Thyroid gland volume was measured using the fluid displacement method and categorized into three age groups: 10-20, 21-50, and >50 years.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was observed in mean thyroid gland volume between males and females.
- A significant difference in thyroid gland volume was found across different age groups.
- Thyroid gland volume increased from childhood/puberty up to 50 years of age, after which it decreased.
Conclusions:
- Age is a significant determinant of thyroid gland volume in the Bangladeshi population.
- Thyroid gland volume exhibits a distinct pattern of increase and subsequent decrease with aging.
- Findings provide valuable reference data for thyroid gland dimensions in Bangladeshi individuals.
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