Thyroid gland diseases in Kano.

Goiter is endemic in some parts of Nigeria. Kano is populated by people from various geographical areas. There has not been any report of thyroid gland diseases pattern in Kano, hence the need for this study. A retrospective review of 75 cases of thyroid gland diseases seen and managed at Aminu Kano Teaching hospital, Kano over a 5-year period forms the basis for this study. Of the 75 patients with goiters 69(92% ) were females. Simple non-toxic goiter was the most common histologic type accounting for 51 (68.0% ) of cases. There were 10 cases (13.3% ) of thyrotoxicosis, 4 (5.4% )with follicular adenoma, and 10 (13.3% ) other patients had proven carcinoma. Well-differentiated follicular carcinoma was the most common malignant type, 7 of which were not recognised as such preoperatively. All cases were treated by surgery with minimal morbidity and mortality. Thyroid surgery constitutes a significant proportion of surgical practice in Nigeria. While increase in dietary iodine will reduce the incidence of goiter everywhere, the impact of iodinisation of salt is yet to be determined. A population based survey of the prevalence of thyroid gland disease in Kano northwest, Nigeria is strongly indicated.