Changes in the connective tissue element of the thyroid gland in normal and recurrent euthyroid goiter

Goitre recurrence is a common problem following subtotal thyroid gland resection for multinodular goitre disease. The aim of our study was to trace out the ultrastructure of the thyroid gland of man after primary and redo operations for struma nodosa. We undertook the task to study the fine ultrastructural changes taking place in the stromal part of the gland. For ultrastructural examination we used routine transmission electron microscopy. The electron microscopy has been made on Hitachi H-500 microscope Our main goal was to compare the ultrastructural characteristics of the thyroid gland in two different groups - patients with primary disease and patients with recurrence.The results from our research showed that in the first group the stroma was presented by one or two rows of cells in the septum or in small groups in the interfolicular space. Studies by electron microscopically showed that the cells of the stroma had the ultrastructural characteristics of fibroblasts, but there was an increased number cisterne of Granular endoplasmic reticulum, well developed Goldgi complex, as well as relatively small amount of vesicles and vacuoles. The examination of the specimens from the second group showed a much thicker stroma between the follicles. There was an increased amount of stromal cells and collagen bundles in the interfolicular space. The proteoglycan complexes in the extracellular matrix were rarely situated.Our results suggest that the connective tissue of the thyroid gland reacts faster to the changes of the structure of the gland than the epithelial cells of the follicles.