| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Few studies using ultrasonographic evaluation have addressed the natural course of benign thyroid nodules. In this study, we present the long-term analysis of benign, untreated thyroid nodules in a moderately iodine-deficient area. DESIGN: We collected the retrospective data for 531 nodules in 420 patients followed by ultrasonography for a mean time period of 39.7 +/- 27.8 months (range 12-168 months). RESULTS: When we considered significant nodule size decrease criteria as decreases in nodule volume of at least 15% and 30%, we found that 33.1% and 20.7% of thyroid nodules decreased in size, respectively. Using the criteria of a greater than 15% and 30% increase in volume showed that 32% and 24.1% increased in size, respectively. A logistic regression analysis using mixed models to predict thyroid nodule growth (volume change > or = 15%), including age, TSH, sex and time between evaluations, failed to predict nodule growth. Only hypoechoic echo pattern remained as a statistically significant predictor of growth. CONCLUSION: In 40 months' follow-up, we found that benign thyroid nodules exhibited a mostly favourable clinical natural course. One-third of benign thyroid nodules showed continuous growth, one-third remained unchanged, and the other third decreased in size. |
| Authors | Murat Faik Erdogan, Alptekin Gursoy, Gurbuz Erdogan
(Affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.)
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| Journal | Clinical endocrinology
(Clin Endocrinol (Oxf))
Vol. 65
Issue 6
Pg. 767-71
(Dec 2006)
ISSN: 0300-0664 England |
| PMID | 17121528
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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| Chemical References |
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| Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Age Factors
- Aged
- Disease Progression
- Epidemiologic Methods
- Female
- Humans
- Iodine
(deficiency)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Organ Size
- Sex Factors
- Thyroid Gland
(ultrasonography)
- Thyroid Nodule
(etiology, ultrasonography)
- Thyrotropin
(blood)
- Topography, Medical
- Turkey
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