Abstract:
Problem statement: There are many thyroid pathologies in western Kenya but their morphological changes
have not been reported in autoimmune thyroid disorders.
Study population: Three hundred and eighty eight patients were studied between Jan 2008 to Dec 2011.
Objectives: To describe the histological patterns in immunological thyroid diseases patients at MTRH, western
Kenya.
Methodology: 388 patients with thyroid pathologies had thyroidectomy and histological diagnosis done. Under
light microscopy, sections were examined to determine whether thyroid follicles were present in the tissues. The
retrospectively collected data was analyzed using STATA version 10 SE. The results were presented in form of
plates, tables, and charts.
Results: Among the histological diseases, colloid goitre was the most prevalent in all the age groups. Across
the age groups, ages 30-39 & 40-49 bore the greatest burden of thyroiditis, thyroid carcinoma, thyroid adenoma
and colloid goitre. Similarly, colloid goitre was the most prevalent among the male as well as among the
female patients. The median age of the subjects was 40 (33-50). There was no significant difference (p=0.154)
in age between the males and the females. Conclusion: Histological examination of the thyroid gland combined
with measurement of plasma thyroid autoantibodies levels could be used for evaluation of immunological
thyroid disease. The prevalence of immunological thyroid disease is higher than the reported prevalence in
Kenya.