FOCAL LYMPHOCYTIC THYROIDITIS AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of lymphocytic thyroiditis at autopsy. This
prospective post-mortem study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, University
College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between December 2008 and April 2010.
Haematoxylin and eosin stained slides of thyroid glands from 107 individuals (65 males and 42
females) who died from non-thyroid related diseases were categorised using Williams and
Doniach’s criteria. The thyroid weights ranged from 5 to 30 gm (mean of 18.4 ± 5.4 gm). The
mean weight of the thyroid gland was significantly less in patients aged less than 18 years than in
older patients (p = 0.01) and greater in pregnant than non-pregnant women (p = 0.004).
Lymphocytic infiltration occurred in ten (9.3%) cases, including 8 males and 2 females. The
inflammation was Grade 1 in seven cases, Grade 2 in two cases and Grade 3 in one case
(Hashimoto thyroiditis). Moderate and severe inflammation was restricted to subjects aged 40
years and above (p = 0.01) and was only observed in patients who died either from infective
illnesses or unnatural/violent causes. Three cases each of incidental micropapillary carcinoma
and colloid goitre were observed.
In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the prevalence of thyroiditis in Ibadan has
remained relatively constant during the previous two decades. It is also suggested that
autoimmune thyroiditis is relatively infrequent in this environment.