title: Ultrasonographic detection of thyroid nodules in hemodialysis patients in Japan.
abstract: The study of thyroid nodules in hemodialyzed patients using ultrasonography has been described in a limited number of reports. The thyroid glands of 143 patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis were examined by ultrasonography using frequency probes. Although a goiter (thyroid volume > 20 mL) was observed in only 20 patients (14%), nodular lesions of the thyroid gland were more frequent and found in 85 patients (59.4%), especially in female patients (42 patients, 72.4%). The etiology of thyroid nodular lesions was as follows: cyst in 43 (30.0%), adenomatous goiter in 14 (9.8%), adenoma in 11 (7.7%), hypoechoic lesion in 17 (11.9%), and intrathyroid calcification in 8 (5.6%). Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed in 5 patients, but no abnormal cells were found. Compared to patients without nodules, the age was higher in patients with cysts (54 +/- 15 vs. 63 +/- 13 years; P < 0.05) and hypoechoic lesions (70 +/- 13 years; P < 0.05). The serum thyroglobulin level was higher in patients with adenomatous goiters (26 +/- 28 vs. 148 +/- 166 ng/mL; P < 0.05). The thyroid volume was greater in patients with adenomatous goiters (14.2 +/- 5.7 vs. 19.0 +/- 7.3 mL; P < 0.05) and adenomas (18.2 +/- 6.7 mL; P < 0.05). In conclusion, patients undergoing hemodialysis frequently develop thyroid abnormalities and ultrasonography is a useful imaging modality to identify these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Saga University, Nabeshima, Saga, Japan. sunny@cc.saga-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanai
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.forename: Teruo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruya
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Node
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D013954:Thyroglobulin