During the last decades, a sharp increase in thyroid pathology took
place in most countries. The reasons for that may be explained not only
because we have a better ability to make precocious diagnosis but also
because other factors may have contributed to that increase. In this
view, genes play an important role, since an individual with a family
history positive for thyroid problems has a significantly higher
possibility of developing a pathology of the gland. Also, environment may contribute to the development of these pathologies
such as radioactive accidents, pollution, and other iatrogenic
illnesses, especially those correlated with autoimmunity.
