title: Incidence of ultrasonographically-detected thyroid nodules in healthy adults.
abstract: We studied the incidence of thyroid nodules in healthy adults, who had no history of thyroid disease, in Tokushima, Japan, where goiter is not considered endemic. Examination was performed by palpation and using a 10-MHz real-time sonographic scanner. Palpable thyroid nodules were present in two (0.9%) of 227 men and in four (1.8%) of 224 women. On the other hand, nodules were detected by ultrasonography in 42 men (18.5%) and 47 women (21.0%). There was no significant difference in the incidence detected by ultrasonography between men and women in any of the age groups, except in men above 60 years old. It is concluded that thyroid nodules are not an uncommon disorder even in men. Since, clinically, the incidence of nodularity appears to be higher in women than in men, there may be difference between men and women in the development of nodules until they become clinically detectable.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oshimo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uyama
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Monden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography