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Title:
Cross-sectional studies of the thyroid among adults in the Cracow region
Author:
Subject:
goiter ; hyperthyroidism ; ioduria ; hypothyroidism ; thyroid volume
Abstract:
The aim of the present study was to evaluate thyroid volume ranges in adult population of the Cracow region, to estimate correlation between thyroid volume and factors such as weight, BMI, height, body surface area ect., to assess diagnostic validity of thyroid palpation versus ultrasound and to determine iodine urinary excretion and TSH level. Thyroid studies were carried out in the former Cracow voivodeship between 1997 and 1999. Data for analysis were obtained from 1321 individuals, 837 females and 484 males aged 18-78 years. The mean age of the whole study population was 43.8±16.3 years. The prevalence of goiter in the study population, detected by palpation was 18.6%. By ultrasound the prevalence of goiter in the study adult population of the Cracow region was 26.8%. The percentage of female and male subjects with goiter was 24.0% and 31.8% respectively (a statistically significant difference). Diagnostic validity of thyroid palpation versus thyroid ultrasound regarded as the reference test was as follows: sensitivity 56.7% and specificity 94.9%. The mean volume of the thyroid among adults in the Cracow region was 17.1±11.1 ml being larger in the group of males (18.5±8.1 ml) than females (16.3±12.3 ml). A correlation was found between thyroid volume and weight, BMI, height and body surface area. Thyroid volume did not correlate with urinary iodine excretion and thyroid ant ; ibodies. The upper limit of thyroid volume (the 95th percentile) in the study population was 22.4 ml in females and 30.9 ml in males. Hyperthyroidism was detected in 15 individuals (1.14%) and hypothyroidism occurred in 24 (1.82%) subjects. The mean level of urinary iodine in the study population was 109.8 μg/l, median (Me) – 94.0 μg/l.