title: Sonographic and functional characteristics of thyroid nodules in a population of adult people in Isfahan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the current status of sonographic characteristics of thyroid nodules in Isfahan, a previously iodine deficient area in central Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional study conducted in 2006, 2523 adult people (age > 20 years) were selected by a multistage clustering sampling method. Of these people, 263 volunteered persons were underwent sonographic evaluation. Thyroid examination was done by two expert sonographers. Serum T(3), T(3), T3RU, TSH, TPO Ab and Tg Ab, and urinary iodine were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six per cent of the 263 people were women. Their mean age was 35.5 years with a range of 20-64 years. Median urinary iodine was 19.4 microg/dL. The prevalence of thyroid nodules on sonography was 22.4% in the whole group; 30% in women and 16.3% in men (OR = 2.2, P = 0.01). The prevalence of thyroid nodules increased with age (P = 0.006). The prevalence of thyroid nodules was higher in hypothyroid people than in euthyroid people (35.1% v. 20.5%, OR = 2.1, P = 0.04). Neither urinary iodine nor autoantibody concentrations correlated with the prevalence of thyroid nodules in sonography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of thyroid nodule by sonography is still high despite relatively normal urinary iodine in this population.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Centre, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham Faghih
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Imani
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aminorroaya
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soheilipour
authors.forename: Atoosa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adibi
authors.forename: Mehri
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sirous
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roohi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mostafavi
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007455:Iodine / Q000652:urine; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000652:urine; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007455:Iodine