Thyroid gland volume and urinary iodine excretion in children 6-11 years old in an endemic area

Goiter prevalence and urinary iodine excretion levels were assessed in 605 school-children (301 males and 304 females), aged 6-11 years, living in the Antalya region, a well known endemic goiter area in Turkey. Goiter prevale nce was evaluated by clinical examination and ultrasound of the thyroid gla nd. Urinary iodine levels were expressed as mu g/g creatinine, Goiter by in spection and palpation was found in 35% (n = 212) of all subjects, in 37.5% (n = 114) of girls and 32.5% (n = 98) of boys. Iodine deficiency of modera te degree was detected from the point of goiter prevalence. With regard to the upper limits of reference thyroid volumes reported by WHO and ICCIDD, g oiter by ultrasonography was found in 34% (n = 206) of all subjects, in 36. 8% (n = 112) of girls and 31% (n = 94) of boys. Median iodine/creatinine ra tios of all subjects, and goitrous and non-goitrous subjects, were 64.1+/-2 0.1, 62.8+/-21.8 and 64.9+/-19.1 mu g/g, respectively. Urinary iodine excre tion levels revealed mild iodine deficiency in the region. No significant c orrelation was observed between urinary iodine excretion levels and thyroid volumes (r = 0.12, p > 0.05), Iodine deficiency of mild to moderate degree in schoolchildren aged 6-11 years was detected in Antalya, It was conclude d that urgent measures must be undertaken to eradicate iodine deficiency in the region.