The frequency of thyroid diseases was verified in an endemic goiter region, based on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Thyroid diseases, in its nodular or diffuse form, were evaluated through 1265 FNAC in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 1989 and 2000, according to sex and age. Colloid goiter was found in 54.39%, followed by Hashimoto's chronic thyroiditis (22.70%) and follicular tumors (8,61%), mainly in females (92%) between 30 and 60 years old (64.12%). To conclude, besides the prevalence of colloid goiter, Hashimoto's chronic thyroiditis presented a higher frequency than those seen in endemic regions and non-endemic goiter region and there was also a high frequency of follicular tumors, around 13 times higher than papillary carcinoma.
Thyroid; Endemic goiter; Hashimoto's chronic thyroiditis; Follicular tumor; Fine needle aspiration
