COSTA A, MORTARA M
Bull World Health Organ. 1960;22(5):493-502.
The prevalence and distribution of both epidemic and endemic goitre in Italy since 1940 are reviewed and the main results of recent research into these two forms of the disease are specified.A number of epidemic outbreaks occurred between 1940 and 1948, all originally in areas of endemic goitre but sometimes spreading to localities from which endemic goitre had practically disappeared. Both persons long resident in these areas and new arrivals were affected, as were domestic animals. Acute goitres showed the same histological features as in the endemic form of the disease. Extrathyroid symptoms were sometimes noted.Studies of endemic goitre have failed to show any clear indication that lack of iodine is responsible for the condition. Epidemiologically, endemic goitre, which remains a predominantly rural disease, seems to be shifting gradually from northern to southern Italy.
回顾了自1940年以来意大利流行性和地方性甲状腺肿的患病率及分布情况，并详述了对这两种疾病形式的最新研究主要成果。1940年至1948年间发生了多次流行性疫情，最初均发生在地方性甲状腺肿流行地区，但有时会蔓延到地方性甲状腺肿实际上已消失的地区。长期居住在这些地区的人和新到者都受到了影响，家畜也未能幸免。急性甲状腺肿的组织学特征与该疾病的地方性形式相同。有时会出现甲状腺外症状。对地方性甲状腺肿的研究未能明确表明碘缺乏是导致该病的原因。从流行病学角度来看，地方性甲状腺肿仍是一种主要在农村地区流行的疾病，似乎正在逐渐从意大利北部向南部转移。
