Spectrum of Thyroid Diseases in Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria: A Review of 94 Consecutive Cases

This study aims to review the spectrum of thyroid diseases in Makurdi, Benue State of Nigeria through
a histopathological survey. It is a retrospective study covering 1st January, 2005 to 31st December,
2016.
Ninety four (94) consecutive cases of thyroidectomy specimens collected from Holy Trinity Specialist
Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria a private hospital and Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi,
Nigeria between January 1st, 2005 to December 31st, 2016 were examined histologically and analyzed
with regards to age and sex.
There were 7 male specimens as against 87 female specimens giving a male: female ratio of 1:12.43.
Nodular colloid goiter was the commonest histological lesion accounting for 72%, followed by thyroid
carcinoma which accounted for 11.66%, adenoma 10.60%. Thyroiditis, 5.30% was the fourth
commonest pathology and thyroglossal cyst/duct accounted for 1.06%. Follicular carcinoma was the
commonest malignancy seen accounting for 7.51% of all specimens and most occurred in females.
However, most of these thyroid malignancies occurred in younger age groups (20-49years) compared
to other studies in Nigeria and Africa. There is need for a large scale study in Makurdi on the relatively
younger age of our thyroid malignancies, higher incidence of follicular carcinoma when compared to
other African studies and the relatively high incident of thyroiditis found in this study.