Affiliation:
1. Associate Professor,B.S.M.C&H,Bankura.
2. Senior Resident,B.S.M.C&H,Bankura.
Abstract
The word ‘Thyroid’ originated from ‘Thyreos’, a Greek word meaning shield. It was first used by Thomas Wharton(1614-1673) of London, UK. He named it as Glandularis thyroideis in 1656 in his book “Adenographia.” In old times, it was called Struma(Latin word of swollen gland), bronchocele (a cystic mass in the neck) and goiter (Latin word-gutter meaning throat).The last name is in use even today [1] .Diseases of the thyroid gland are common and comprise a spectrum of entities causing systemic disease (Grave’s disease) or a localised abnormality in the thyroid gland such as nodular enlargement (goitre) or a tumour mass. After diabetes mellitus, the thyroid gland is the most common organ to cause endocrine disorders [2]. Thyroid disorders are the most common endocrine diseases particularly in countries where iodine intake through diet is low.