To assess diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to nontoxic multinodular goiter and to compare them with previously reported American Thyroid Association (ATA) and European Thyroid Association (ETA) surveys, an online questionnaire was distributed to Latin American Thyroid Society (LATS) members. An index case was presented (42-yr-old woman with an enlarged, irregular, nontender, 50- to 80-g thyroid and no clinical suspicion of malignancy or dysfunction), and 11 variations were proposed to evaluate how each alteration would affect management. We obtained 148 responses (response rate, 50%). In the index case, the most used blood tests were TSH (96%), antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (76%), and free T(4) (64%); 5% included a calcitonin assay. Nearly 90% would perform ultrasound, and only 16% used scintigraphy. Fine needle biopsy was indicated by 88%, with ultrasound guidance in 75% of times. For treatment, observation was preferred by 39%, surgery by 28%, levothyroxine by 21%, and radioiodine by 7% (60% with recombinant TSH prestimulation). A suppressed TSH level prompted 45% of the respondents to recommend radioiodine, whereas 70-78% indicated surgery in the presence of a large goiter or suspicion of malignancy. In conclusion, no consensus exists concerning the ideal management of nontoxic goiter among LATS members, in agreement with previous ATA and ETA surveys. Levothyroxine therapy is less used by LATS than by ATA or ETA members, and a more aggressive therapeutic strategy is generally preferred by members of LATS and ETA compared with ATA.

Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab vol 49 nº 2 Abril 2005 228 RESUMOA auto-imunidade tireoidiana é uma co-morbidade freqüente entre pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1). Neste estudo, avaliamos a prevalência da positividade para auto-anticorpos anti-tireoidianos (anti-microssomal, anti-Tg e anti-TPO), bem como características clínicas (idade, sexo, duração do DM) e laboratoriais (função tireoidiana, HbA1) de 101 pacientes (idade média de 20 ± 9,6 anos; 62 do sexo feminino) com DM atendidos no HC/UEL. Resultados: A presença de auto-anticorpos foi detectada em 31 pacientes (30,7%). No grupo com idade <12 anos, a prevalência de anticorpos foi de 15%; entre 12-18 anos, 32%, e >18 anos, 35,7% (p= 0,22). Entre os 31 pacientes com anticorpos positivos, 40% apresentava alguma disfunção tireoidiana, comparados a apenas 4,4% daqueles sem anticorpos (p<0,001). O TSH médio foi maior no grupo com anticorpos presentes (3,75 vs. 2,32µU/mL; p= 0,01). Conclusão: A prevalência da positividade para anticorpos marcadores de tireoidite auto-imune foi de em 30,7%, compatível com a literatura. Thyroid autoimmunity is a frequent comorbid condition subjects with in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1). We evaluated the prevalence of antithyroid autoantibodies (antimicrosomal, antithyroglobulin and antithyroid peroxidase), in addition to clinical (gender, age, DM duration) and laboratory (TSH, HbA1) characteristics of 101 patients (mean age 20 ± 9.6 years; 62 female) followed at the HC/UEL. Results: Autoantibodies were found in 31 subjects (30.7%). In the age group <12 years, 15% had thyroid antibodies; from 12 to 18 years, 32%, and >18 years, 35.7% (p= 0.22). Among the patients with positive antibodies, 40% had some thyroid dysfunction vs only 4.4% of those without antibodies (p<0.001). The average TSH was higher in the positive than in negative group (3.75 and 2.32µU/mL, respectively; p= 0.01). Conclusions: The prevalence of thyroid antibodies was 30.7%, in accordance to the literature. Keywords: Type 1 diabetes mellitus; Autoimmune thyroiditis; Autoantibodies; Prevalence P ACIENTES COM DIABETES MELLITUS do tipo 1 (DM1) podem apresentar auto-anticorpos contra diversos antígenos da célula beta pancreática, bem como para antígenos da tireóide, adrenais e células parietais do estô-mago, dentre outros.