Introduction to Thyroidology with Special Reference to Conditions Requiring Surgical Treatment

Diseases of the thyroid gland have high global prevalence, and India is not an exception. Based on projections from studies on thyroid disease, about 42 million people in India suffer from diseases of the thyroid gland [1] and it is now being recognised as the most common non-communicable disease of women. Diseases of the thyroid gland are more frequently diagnosed in women than men [2]. Common diseases of the thyroid can be categorised into hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, goitre either diffuse or nodular, and thyroid cancer. Other rare problems include recurrent thyroid cysts.