CRETINISM, WITH OR WITHOUT GOITER, IN 5 OF 10 SIBLINGS

Abstract

Cretinism, with or without goiter, occurred in 5 of 10 siblings in a family living all their lives in a non-goitrous area of southern Missouri. Three of the 5 had large nodular goiters. Two of these 3 developed hyperthyroidism. One had total thyroidectomy with subsequent myxedema, the other had a subtotal thyroidectomy with subsequent reduction in the basal metabolic rate. These 2 were ages 33 and 29 when operated. Ability of the thyroid to suddenly manufacture thyroxin after yrs. of inactivity is unexplained.