[Hormone picture in female patients with diffuse and nodular goiter]

Concentration of total thyroxine, normalized thyroxine ratio, T3-RIA, and Serum TSH before and 30 minutes after stimulation with 0,2 mg TRH i.v. in various forms of euthyroid goiter were determined. There were no significant differences between the three clinical groups of goiter patients. We draw the conclusion that the dependence on TSH, as one important factor in pathogenesis, can on the one hand lead to a diffuse goiter and, on the other hand lead to a nodous goiter. That means, that different developments of goiter are determined by specific thyroid tissue factors.