Goiter in Representational Art

Abstract

Goiter, defined as an enlargement of the thyroid gland, has been, since the origin of the human species, one of the most common non-communicable diseases. Because iodine is required for thyroid hormone synthesis, diffuse and/or nodular goiter, resulting from a persistent thyroid stimulation, represents the adaptive response to adverse environmental conditions, namely nutritional iodine deficiency. Endemic goiter, defined on a pure epidemiologic basis (i.e., a condition affecting more than 10% of the general population), was widely present in large parts of Europe and Mediterranean area as the predominant iodine deficiency disorder (IDD).

Keywords

• goiter-representational, art, iodine,deficiency, renaissance, modern art