Prevalence of incidental thyroid disease in a relatively low iodine intake area.

Abstract

An ultrasonographic survey of thyroid abnormalities was conducted in 547 consecutive apparently normal overweight subjects (380 females and 167 males), aged 27-58 years in an urban area with relatively low iodine intake (mean daily urinary iodine excretion: 10.6 micrograms/dL). Individuals with any previous thyroid disease or familial thyroid pathology were excluded. In 240 subjects (44%) high resolution ultrasonography of the thyroid was considered normal. In 307 individuals (56%) abnormalities of the echo structure (39%) or thyroid nodular disease (17%) were detected by ultrasonography. Marked heterogeneity of the echo structure that was considered suggestive of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis was present in 81 subjects (15%). In 72 of these patients the serum anti-TPO levels were positive by a sensitive RIA. Thyroid nodules either solid or predominantly cystic were present in 90 subjects (17%). Eighteen patients had a relatively large nodule (diameter 15-18 mm). Eleven of these nodules were missed at clinical examination. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed in 14 patients and 7 individuals underwent thyroid surgery. In 6 subjects the pathologic diagnosis was benign adenomatous goiter and one patient had a follicular carcinoma. Thyroid function studies confirmed subclinical hypothyroidism in 27 patients (4.9%), all of them with elevated serum anti-TPO autoantibodies levels. It was concluded that the overall occurrence of thyroid disease is more common than suspected by clinical examination.

• Authors: E Tomimori, F Pedrinola, H Cavaliere, M Knobel, G Medeiros-Neto
• Journal: Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association (Thyroid) Vol. 5 Issue 4 Pg. 273-6 (Aug 1995) ISSN: 1050-7256 [Print] United States
• PMID: 7488867 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Iodine
• Iodide Peroxidase

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Autoantibodies (blood)
• Biopsy, Needle
• Brazil (epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Iodide Peroxidase (immunology)
• Iodine (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Thyroid Diseases (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology)
• Thyroid Gland (diagnostic imaging, pathology)
• Thyroid Nodule (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, pathology)
• Thyroiditis, Autoimmune (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, immunology)
• Ultrasonography