AUTONOMY IN ENDEMIC GOITER

The occurrence of hyperthyroidism in many individuals after introducti on of iodine prophylaxis in endemic goiter areas can have dramatic con sequences for the affected individuals. It indicates that in such indi viduals the increase of serum thyroid hormone level in response to iod ine supplementation does not exert its normal negative feedback on thy roid activity, ie, that in such individuals some thyroid tissue has be come autonomous. In this short review we summarize what is known about the possible mechanisms, cause, diagnosis, and consequences of thyroi d autonomy.