title: Obesity is a risk factor for thyroid cancer in a large, ultrasonographically screened population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is a well-known risk factor for many cancers, including those of the esophagus, colon, kidney, breast, and skin. However, there are few reports on the relationship between obesity and thyroid cancer. We conducted this study to determine whether obesity is a risk factor for thyroid cancer by systematically screening a selected population by ultrasonography.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained data from 15,068 subjects that underwent a routine health checkup from 2007 to 2008 at the Health Screening and Promotion Center of Asan Medical Center. Thyroid ultrasonography was included in the checkup, and suspicious nodules were examined by ultrasonography-guided aspiration. Those with a history of thyroid disease or family history of thyroid cancer were excluded from this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 15,068 subjects, 8491 men and 6577 women, were screened by thyroid ultrasonography. Fine-needle aspiration cytology was performed in 1427 of these patients based on the predefined criteria and thyroid cancer was diagnosed in 267 patients. The prevalence of thyroid cancer in women was associated with a high BMI (per 5 kg/m(2) increase) (odds ratios (OR)=1.63, 95% CI 1.24-2.10, P<0.001), after adjustment for age, smoking status, and TSH levels. There was no positive correlation between the prevalence of thyroid cancer in men and a high BMI (OR=1.16, 95% CI 0.85-1.57, P=0.336). There was no association between age, fasting serum insulin, or basal TSH levels and thyroid cancer in either gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity was associated with a higher prevalence of thyroid cancer in women when evaluated in a routine health checkup setting. This association between risk factor and disease was unrelated to serum insulin and TSH levels. Additional studies are needed to understand the mechanism(s) behind the association of obesity with thyroid cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tae Yong
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Ji
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Ji Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yim
authors.forename: Won Gu
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dong Eun
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Suck Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Sung Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Hong-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myung-Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Young Kee
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Shong
authors.forename: Won Bae
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D013972:Thyrotropin