The development of a goitre in the retrosternal space may result in many different symptoms due to local compression. We describe a case in which such a goitre resulted in full-thickness ulceration of the oesophagus, which presented as a fatal haematemesis. We believe that such a complication has not been previously reported.

Introduction Simple goitre has afflicted mankind since the earliest times. It was known to the Chinese about 1500 B.C., to the ancient Greeks and to the Romans. Humbolt, in I824, observed it among the natives of the Andes and Livingstone among those of Central Africa. Two thousand years ago sea salt was known to be beneficial and burnt sea sponge was a remedy in use from the times of the ancien...

OBJECTIVE To determine iodine levels in salt and iodine deficiency prevalence in school-aged children in 16 districts in Tanzania with previous severe iodine deficiency. DESIGN A cross-sectional study in schoolchildren. Systematic probability sampling was used to select schools and subjects for goitre assessment and urinary iodine determination. SETTING Sixteen districts randomly selected f...

this study was undertaken to define the epidemiological aspects of thyroid carcinoma in iran, an area of endemic iodine deficiency nearly until recently. the tehran cancer institute data system registry (tcidsr) was used to identify patients with different histological types of thyroid cancer (tc) in iran. data were analyzed from 438 thyroid cancer cases identified by the tcidsr in 1998-99. dis...

history of excessive perspiration three months previously, followed two weeks later by a "sweat rash." She became very fretful, refused her food, and did not sleep. There was marked photophobia. She was admitted to hospital, and kept on sedatives to procure sleep. She took her feeds better, but began to have a temperature; loose motions followed, and eventually she died of gastro-enteritis. In ...

A case is described here of a young euthyroid woman with a goitre and hearing impairment. Perchlorate discharge test showed increased washout of iodine. Genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of Pendred syndrome as a mutation in the Pds gene was found. The patient was treated with potassium iodine orally. During follow-up there where no symptoms of hyperthyroidism and the size of the goitre d...