Pattern of Thyroid Gland Morphometry Among Adults in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Using Ultrasonography

The thyroid gland is a bilobed endocrine organ located anterior to the trachea in the lower neck, responsible for the production of thyroid hormones essential for metabolic regulation. Ultrasonographic assessment of thyroid gland dimensions provides a safe, non-invasive method for establishing normative morphometric data and identifying pathological changes such as goitre and nodular disease. Reference ranges used in Nigeria are largely extrapolated from international standards, which may not account for the nutritional, genetic, and environmental factors prevalent in Nigerian populations. This study aims to document the ultrasonographic dimensions of the thyroid gland, including the height, width, and depth of each lobe and the isthmus thickness, among healthy adult volunteers at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, South West Nigeria. Participants will be recruited from the hospital's general outpatient department, excluding those with known thyroid or neck pathology. Data will be stratified by age, sex, and body mass index. Findings are expected to establish ultrasonographic normative ranges for thyroid dimensions specific to the Ekiti adult population, supporting radiologists and endocrinologists in recognising departures from normality.

Keywords: thyroid morphometry, ultrasonography, normative values, Ekiti State, thyroid anatomy