[Thyroid nodule disease in a previously endemic goiter area]

We conducted a 6-year study of 110 patients with thyroid nodular disease in a previously goitrogenic area. The aim of the present work was to establish its incidence, to determine if multinodular goiter and autonomous thyroid nodule have the same analytical and clinical behaviour and to verify if the iodation campaign had resulted in the development of thyrotoxicosis induced by iodine. The results demonstrated an incidence of 0.4 per 1,000 population and per year. The two modalities of thyroid nodular disease did not present any clinical and analytical differences. 58.2% of the patients had hyperthyroidism, 53.1% of which were T-4 thyrotoxicosis, 12.5% T-3 thyrotoxicosis and 34.4%, subclinical hyperthyroidism. 8.2% of the patients under study had hyperthyroidism induced by iodine (Jod Basedow), with iodide excretion values higher that 3 standard deviations with respect to the population average (> 220 micrograms/g creatinine).