[Thyroid gland ultrasound screening (Papillon Initiative). Report of 15 incidentally detected thyroid cancers].
In the framework of the Thyroid initiative Papillon 2001 - 2002 thyroid nodules and sonographically detectable focal lesions with a diameter more than 5 mm were verified in 23.1% of  64.123 persons without a history of thyroid disease.  The frequency of such findings was with 33.0% in 46-65 years old persons three times higher then in persons aged 18-30 years (9.6%).  In the diagnostic workup thyroid cancer was detected in 15 patients operated on up to now (6 women and 9 men; papillary cancers in 12 cases, follicular cancers in 3 cases)  The smallest tumor had a diameter of 1.3 cm, the mean diameter was 2.3 +/- 91 cm.  In 3 patients the tumor had invaded the tissue  beyond the thyroid capsule, in 4 cases multicentric growth was detected.  Lymph node metastases were found in 7/15 cases and distant metastases in 2/15 cases. These result reveal, that thyroid cancer detected by chance may be relatively aggressive.  In daily routine, sonographically detectable lesions with poor echogenicity, irregular margins or internal calcifications with a diameter of more than 1 cm should be clarified by fine needle aspiration biopsy.
Reiners
C
C
Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Universität Würzburg. Reiners_C@klinik.uni-wuerzburg.de
Schumm-Draeger
P M
PM
Geling
M
M
Mastbaum
C
C
Schönberger
J
J
Laue-Savic
A
A
Hackethal
K
K
Hampel
R
R
Heinken
U
U
Kullak
W
W
Linke
R
R
Uhde
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009786:Occupational Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012737:Sex Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014463:Ultrasonography