Amyloid goitre

Abstract

Amyloid goitre is a rare manifestation of amyloidosis; about 50 cases have been recorded and this paper adds a further six cases, the first to be described from Uganda. The condition has to be distinguished from the more common types of goitre, and histological differentiation from medullary carcinoma may be difficult with small biopsies. Irrespective of an underlying cause, the distribution of amyloidosis in Uganda resembles the classical secondary type, and the findings in 81 cases confirm this. The age of onset of the primary type is earlier than seen elsewhere and it is possible that these variations result from immune depression following malnutrition or endemic infectious diseases.