title: Spectrum and prevalence of nodular thyroid diseases detected by ultrasonography in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to investigate thyroid diseases and the prevalence of goiter by ultrasonography (US) in a moderately iodine deficient area.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MELEN Study is a prospective cohort study on the prevalence of thyroid diseases in Turkish adults. A total of 2233 subjects with a mean age of 50 (age range 18 to 92) were submitted to study. Thyroid US was performed and interpreted by the same experienced physician. Goiter prevalence was defined according to Gutekunst's criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common thyroid disease was multinodular goiter (MNG) (42%), followed by nodular goiter (NG) (14.6%). The crude prevalence of nodular disease in the region was 56.6%. In the study cohort, thyrotoxicosis (TSH <0.35 μIU/ml) prevalence was 12 % and subclinical and overt hypothyroidism (TSH > 4.5 μIU/ml) prevalence was 6.5 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that thyrotoxicosis and nodular thyroidal diseases are more important public health issues in moderate iodine deficient geographical areas. We recommend the increased rates of US screening especially in the endemic regions in order to detect thyroidal nodules earlier.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department,Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey. drfhbesir@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department,Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fahri Halit
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Besir
authors.affiliation: Nuclear Medicine,Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Melih Engin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department,Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yazgan
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department,Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department,Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department,Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coşkun
authors.affiliation: Chest Disease Department, Duzce University, Medical Faculty, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059038:Black Sea; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006043:Goiter, Endemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D007455:Iodine / Q000172:deficiency; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014421:Turkey; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013972:Thyrotropin; D007455:Iodine; D013974:Thyroxine