Journal List > J Korean Endocr Soc > v.21(5) > 1003318

Suk, Kim, Kim, Kim, Kim, Jeon, and Shong: Prevalence of Ultrasonographically-Detected Thyroid Nodules in Adults without Previous History of Thyroid Disease

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of palpable thyroid nodules in the general population is about 5%, and is 3~5 times higher in women than in men. However, much higher prevalence, up to 50%, was reported from autopsy data. Recently, the use of high resolution ultrasonography for routine check-up has resulted in much more detection of non-palpable thyroid nodules. We studied the prevalence of thyroid nodules in healthy adults without history of thyroid disease, and compared the prevalence in relation to palpability, age and gender.

Methods

The prevalence of thyroid nodules was studied in adults aged from 20 to 79 years who had visited the health promotion center at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from Jan 2002 to Dec 2003. Subjects with previous thyroid disease were excluded. 7,440 subjects (6,168 female, 1,272 men) were included in this study. Thyroid palpation was performed and followed by ultrasonography using a 12-MHz real-time scanner.

Results

Thyroid nodules were detected in 3,040 of the 7,440 subjects (41%). Palpable nodules were present in 213 (3%), and non-palpable, but ultrasonographically detected thyroid nodules were present in 2,827 (38%). Thyroid nodules were present in 2,602 women (42.2%) and 370 men (29%). Among them, 159 women (2.6%) and 54 men (4.2%) had palpable thyroid nodules and 2,443 women (39.6%) and 316 men (24.8%) had non-palpable but ultrasonographically detected nodules. A significant linear trend was found between age and the prevalence of thyroid nodules.

Conclusion

The prevalence of ultrasonographically detected thyroid nodules in adults with no previous history of thyroid disease was 41%. The prevalence of palpable nodules and non-palpable, but ultrasonographically detected nodules were 3% and 38%, respectively. Thyroid nodules were detected in 42.2% of women and 29% of men, showing that thyroid nodules are very common in healthy adults, even in men.

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Prevalence of palpable and non-palpable but ultrasonographically detected thyroid nodules by age and sex.
*indicate significant difference from female (P < 0.05) in each age group.
jkes-21-389-g001
Table 1
Age and sex distribution of palpable and non-palpable but ultrasonographically detected thyroid nodules
jkes-21-389-i001

The proportion (%) of palpable nodule and non-palpable but ultrasonographically detected nodule according to age and sex were shown in parentheses, respectively.

*indicate significant difference from women (P < 0.05) in each age group.

The linear trend for nodule prevalence was observed in increasing age groups in palpable nodule (women P = 0.004; men, P = 0.025) and non-palpable but US detected nodule (women, P < 0.001; men, P < 0.001).

Table 2
Size and sex distribution of palpable and non-palpable but ultrasonographically detected thyroid nodules
jkes-21-389-i002

The proportion (%) of palpable nodule and non-palpable but ultrasonographically detected nodule according to age and sex were shown in parentheses, respectively.

*indicate significant difference of portion of palpable nodule from women (P < 0.05) in each size group.

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