On the World T
hyroid Day this year, Dr. Umal Azmat, Consultant Endocrinologist from the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centres said that the prevalence of t
hyroid disease (hormonal and structural) is approximately 5% to 10% in Pakistan. However, a significant number of cases remain undiagnosed due to lack of awareness and unavailability of healthcare. Early detection of t
hyroid disorders, including t
hyroid cancer is possible through increased awareness and timely evaluation and testing.
The t
hyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of the neck, anteriorly. It produces t
hyroid hormone that controls many vital functions of the body. Dr. Azmat said, “There are a number of different disorders related to t
hyroid, res
ulting from malfunctioning of the gland, auto-immune diseases and cancer. When the normal t
hyroid hormone balance is disrupted, people may show symptoms such as feeling tired, heat or cold sensitivity, weight gain or weight loss, tremors, and skin changes. Hypot
hyroidism (when the gland does not make sufficient t
hyroid hormone) and hypert
hyroidism (when the gland makes excess t
hyroid hormone) are most common forms of t
hyroid disorders. Some forms of hypo/hypert
hyroidism are self-limiting and do not need treatment, whereas others would require treatment”.
Discussing prevention and early detection, Dr. Azmat said, “Some risk factors such as family history and genetics which predispose individuals to t
hyroid disorders cannot be altered and it is
important to have a high level of suspicion in this patient population so that the correct diagnosis is made, and treatment started accordingly. In some cases, especially hypot
hyroidism, prevention is possible through adequate iodine nutrition. T
hyroid nodules are also commonly noted, predominantly in females and most of them are not cancerous, however they must always be evaluated to rule out cancer. For early detection, people can go for annual health check-ups that include blood tests to screen for t
hyroid disorders. The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust runs clinics for management of t
hyroid and parat
hyroid disorders. We treat both non-cancer and cancer related t
hyroid issues. In case of any unusual signs or symptoms, it is extremely
important to see a physician because if lef
t untreated, t
hyroid disorders can lead to significant morbidity and in some cases mortality.
Commenting on the prevailing coronavirus pandemic, Dr. Umal Azmat said that according to the European T
hyroid Association, patients with t
hyroid cancer resistant to therapy, under treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and those receiving radioiodine treatment should be considered at a potentially increased risk of developing severe disease with Covid-19 infection. Therefore, she concluded, such patients especially, and all other patients too, should strictly follow all safety protocols. There is no evidence yet that patients with t
hyroid disorders should not get vaccinated, therefore she strongly encour
aged everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible. If a patient is on any immunosuppressive therapy, they should consult their respective physician for advice regarding vaccination.