Ultrasonographic screening for occult thyroid cancer.
BACKGROUND
It has been shown that occult thyroid carcinoma can be identified in about 10% of thyroid glands in autopsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of asymptomatic thyroid carcinoma in the Hong Kong Chinese population by ultrasonographic screening.


METHODS
Volunteer subjects without symptoms of thyroid disease were recruited for ultrasonographic screening for thyroid cancer. A total of 1140 subjects were recruited in this study.


RESULTS
Thyroid nodules were found in 45% subjects (511 of 1140); the mean age was 48 years. Ultrasonographic-guided aspiration cytology was performed in 258 subjects. Twenty-six subjects (2.3%) had cytologic findings suspicious of malignancy. Fourteen subjects (1.2%) had pathologic diagnosis of thyroid cancer, including 13 papillary carcinomas and 1 follicular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
A high incidence of occult thyroid cancer could be identified on ultrasonographic screening. Subjects could benefit with early diagnosis with either early intervention or close monitoring.
Yuen
Anthony Po Wing
AP
Hong Kong Head and Neck Ear Nose Throat Surgery Centre, Hong Kong, Central Building, Central, Hong Kong. anthonypwyuen@yahoo.com.hk
Ho
Ambrose Chung Wai
AC
Wong
Birgitta Yee Hang
BY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult