건강검진 수진 성인에서 초음파로 발견된 무증상 갑상선 질환에 대한 연구

Abstract

Background and Objectives : In these days, asymptomatic thyroid functional abnormalities and/or nodular disorders are detected more frequently by routine health check-ups. There are many studies of the thyroid nodule prevalence, however other thyroid disease such as chronic thyroiditis has been studied not that much. The objective was to access the prevalence of asymptomatic thyroid disease not only thyroid nodules but diffuse thyroid disorders by using ultrasonography in adults attending health check-ups.

Materials and Methods : From May, 2009 to March, 2014, 1570 adults underwent thyroid ultrasonography in our hospital for routine health check-ups. Subjects who had previous thyroid surgery were excluded. Each subject’s thyroid was classified as being in 1 of 5 of the following diagnostic categories on the basis of the sonographic features: normal, thyroid nodule, chronic thyroiditis, r/o chronic thyroiditis, and coarse echogenecity. These data were then correlated with the thyroid function test and thyroid auto-antibodies.

Results : Among the 1535 subjects, thyroid nodules were detected in 700 subjects (45.6%) and the prevalence of thyroid nodules had increasing trend with increasing age. On the other hands, diffuse thyroid disorders were detected in 191 subjects (12.4%) and the prevalence of diffuse thyroid disorders was concentrated in age 30-50s. There was a rapid increase of thyroid functional abnormalities in addition to subclinical thyroid disease with more than 3 features of diffuse thyroid disorder.

Conclusion : The prevalence of thyroid nodules was increased by increasing age, and the prevalence of diffuse thyroid disorders was concentrated in age 30-50s. We suggest that when there are more than 3 features of the diffuse thyroid disorder in ultrasonographic examinations, check the thyroid function test and thyroid auto-antibodies even if the patient does not have any symptoms.