Thyroid Function Assessment in Patients Presenting With Swelling of the Neck at General Hospital Minna, Niger State

Neck swellings of thyroidal origin are commonly encountered in Nigerian surgical outpatient clinics, yet the systematic assessment of thyroid function in such patients remains underperformed in many secondary health facilities. This study assesses thyroid function status among patients presenting with anterior neck swelling at General Hospital Minna, Niger State, North Central Nigeria, from 2022 to 2023. A cross-sectional study enrolled 120 consecutive patients with clinically confirmed thyroid swelling. All participants underwent thyroid function tests including TSH, free T3, and free T4 assays, alongside thyroid ultrasonography. Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Euthyroidism was the predominant finding, occurring in 68% of participants, while clinical hypothyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism were identified in 11% and 9% of cases respectively. Hyperthyroidism was present in 12% of patients, predominantly those with toxic multinodular goiter. Solitary thyroid nodules constituted 38% of cases, with three cases confirmed as malignant on fine needle aspiration cytology. Awareness of the need for specialist evaluation was low among patients, with most seeking care only after swelling became cosmetically noticeable or compressive. The study recommends community thyroid health awareness programs, standardization of thyroid function testing protocols at secondary hospitals in Niger State, and referral pathways for suspected malignancy to tertiary centers in North Central Nigeria. Keywords: thyroid function, neck swelling, goiter, Minna, thyroid assessment