Publication:

If this argument is true: Hashimoto's disease causes chronic thyroid damage so in diseased elderly population the thyroid volumes must be low-retrospective US study

Background Hashimoto thyroiditis is part of the spectrum of autoimmune thyroid diseases and is characterized by the destruction of thyroid cells by various cell and antibody-mediated immune processes. It primarily affects middle-aged women but also can occur in men and children. Hashimoto's disease typically progresses slowly over years and causes chronic thyroid damage. This has to be thought that in diseased elderly population the thyroid volumes must be low. This paper shows if this argument is true and how thyroid volumes change over years by the disease Hashimoto because of chronic thyroid damage. A review of the literature revealed several studies about thyroid volume changes by aging and by Hashimoto thyroiditis separately. But there has not been any study in literature wondering how thyroid volumes change by aging in the course of the disease Hashimoto.

Methods The study was designed as a retrospective investigation. The study group included 136 patients who admitted for sonography examination between the years 2012-2014 whom have suffered from Hashimoto’s disease. In the study, control groups were formed with 73 healthy individuals who volunteered for participation. The volume of each thyroid lobe was calculated with ellipsoid formula: (volume (ml) = Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Thickness (cm) x1/6 Л ).

Results While healthy individuals are grown older, thyroid volumes are increased. In diseased individuals while aging although disease causes chronic thyroid damage, volume measurements do not change.

Conclusions The results have suggested that while aging although disease causes chronic thyroid damage, volume measurements do not change. Because volume reduction due to chronic damage of disease is balanced by volume increase due to aging.