Endemic goiter and cretinism: Naturally occurring goitrogens

Endemic goiter probably represents the most widespread thyroid disease in the world. In 1960 Kelly and Snedden estimated that no less than 200 million people were probably afflicted with the disease. The gravity of endemic goiter from the public health point of view stems not only from the local mechanical disturbances caused by the goiter itself but especially from the accompanying functional anomalies, and most particularly from the high incidence of cretinism found in the most serious endemic regions. Cretinism is a veritable social scourge which impedes the socio-economic progress of the populations afflicted with it. The purpose of this paper is to review present knowledge of the epidemiology, etiology, physiopathology, complications and treatment of endemic goiter.SCOPUS: ar.j