Ultrasonographic evaluation of the thyroid gland and goiter prevalence in Bushehr port as an iodine- sufficient area: 6- year prospective study in schoolchild

The determination of goiter prevalence in children by thyroid ultrasound is an important tool for assessing iodine deficiency disorders. The main aim of this study was to determine thyroid volume and goiter prevalence in schoolchildren of Bushehr port, based on 2007 normative values. A probability proportionate-to-size cluster sampling method was used to obtain a representative sample of 1148 school children of Bushehr port aged 7-10 years. The median and 97th percentile of thyroid volumes for age and body surface area (BSA) was measured by data of ultrasonography. The normative value of thyroid volume of the 2007 study was used as reference. The 97th percentile of thyroid volume based on age or BSA in school children was higher than the international normative reference. The age-, and BSA-adjusted mean of thyroid volume was higher in both sexes than the thyroid volume of school children in the 2007 study (p<0.0001). Application of the native thyroid volume reference resulted in a goiter prevalence of 7.57%. The thyroid volumes of schoolchildren and goiter prevalence in Bushehr port were generally high compared to the baseline data obtained 6 years ago. The environmental goiterogenic factors should be investigated in this iodine-sufficient area.