Musculoskeletal System Symptoms in Goiter

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal manifestations in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Methods: One hundred and twenty-three patients (100 female, 23 male) who visited the nuclear medicine department for thyroid gland scintigraphy were included in our study. According to thyroid hormone levels, patients were allocated into five categories: hyperthyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroidism, and hypothyroidism. Before neurological and musculoskeletal examinations, a standardized symptom questionnaire was completed including questions about sensory symptoms, muscle weakness, restricted joint mobility, musculoskeletal pain. Neurological examination, range of motion of joints, effusion or swelling of joints was assessed. Diagnosis of osteoarthritis was done by the clinical and radiological characteristics. The diagnosis of FMS was made according to criteria of American College of Rheumatology. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a T-score ≤ -2.5 was classi ed as osteoporosis, whereas a T-score between -2.5 and -1.0 was classi ed as osteopenia. Thyroid status was determined by serum TSH levels. Results: Eighty-one percent of the patients were female (100) and 19% were male (23). Mean age of female patients was 49.99±15.27 years (range 20-87) and mean age of male patients was 61.8±12.33 years (range 34-88). When divided according to thyroid status, 21.1% (n=26) had hyperthyroidism, 21.1% (n=26) had subclinical hyperthyroidism, 49.6% (n=61) were euthyroid, 4.9% (n=6) had subclinical hypothyroidism and 3.3% (n=4) were hypothyroid. None of 59% of patients had any musculoskeletal diagnosis. Osteoporosis was the most common problem, affecting 23.7% of patients Conclusion: The presence of musculoskeletal symptoms in patients with goiter should be considered and investigated. [Cukurova Med J 2013; 38(2.000): 261-269]