title: Serum thyrotropin as a risk factor for thyroid malignancy in euthyroid subjects with thyroid micronodule.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level is a risk factor for differentiated thyroid cancer. The present study investigated whether TSH is a risk factor for thyroid microcarcinoma (TMC) in euthyroid subjects with a micronodule.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 483 euthyroid subjects (77 males patients, 406 females patients) with a thyroid micronodule were enrolled and underwent ultrasound guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy. Serum TSH level was measured in every subject. The final diagnostic outcome (malignant or benign) was defined in conjunction with cytology and histology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the patients below the population mean, patients above the population mean had a significantly higher malignancy rate (10.8% vs 4.8%, p = .025). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed TSH as an independent risk factor for malignancy in euthyroid patients with a micronodule (odds ratio, 1.449; 95% confidence interval, 1.033-2.033; p = .031).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of TSH in subjects with a thyroid micronodule is helpful to estimate cancer risk.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University School of Medicine, Gyeongju, Korea.
authors: Seong-Su
authors: SS
authors: Moon
authors: Young-Sil
authors: YS
authors: Lee
authors: In-Kyu
authors: IK
authors: Lee
authors: Jung-Guk
authors: JG
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D061765:Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin