Endocrinology and Metabolism

The Korean Endocrine Society (대한내분비학회)
권호 표지

Prevalence of Ultrasonographically-Detected Thyroid Nodules in Adults without Previous History of Thyroid Disease

갑상선 질환의 기왕력이 없는 성인에서 갑상선 초음파 선별검사로 발견된 갑상선 결절의 유병률

Suk, Ji-Hye;Kim, Tae-Yong;Kim, Mi-Kyung;Kim, Won-Bae;Kim, Hong-Kyu;Jeon, Seong-Hoon;Shong, Young-Kee
석지혜;김태용;김미경;김원배;김홍규;전성훈;송영기

  • Published : 2006.10.31
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Abstract

Background: The prevalence of palpable thyroid nodules in the general population is about 5%, and is 3$\sim$5 times higher in women than in men. However, much higher prevalence, up to 50%, was reported from autopsy data. Recently, the use of high resolution ultrasonography for routine check-up has resulted in much more detection of non-palpable thyroid nodules. We studied the prevalence of thyroid nodules in healthy adults without history of thyroid disease, and compared the prevalence in relation to palpability, age and gender. Methods: The prevalence of thyroid nodules was studied in adults aged from 20 to 79 years who had visited the health promotion center at Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, from Jan 2002 to Dec 2003. Subjects with previous thyroid disease were excluded. 7,440 subjects (6,168 female, 1,272 men) were included in this study. Thyroid palpation was performed and followed by ultrasonography using a 12-MHz real-time scanner. Results: Thyroid nodules were detected in 3,040 of the 7,440 subjects (41%). Palpable nodules were present in 213 (3%), and non-palpable, but ultrasonographically detected thyroid nodules were present in 2,827 (38%). Thyroid nodules were present in 2,602 women (42.2%) and 370 men (29%). Among them, 159 women (2.6%) and 54 men (4.2%) had palpable thyroid nodules and 2,443 women (39.6%) and 316 men (24.8%) had non-palpable but ultrasonographically detected nodules. A significant linear trend was found between age and the prevalence of thyroid nodules. Conclusions: The prevalence of ultrasonographically detected thyroid nodules in adults with no previous history of thyroid disease was 41%. The prevalence of palpable nodules and non-palpable, but ultrasonographically detected nodules were 3% and 38%, respectively. Thyroid nodules were detected in 42.2% of women and 29% of men, showing that thyroid nodules are very common in healthy adults, even in men.

연구배경: 갑상선 결절은 전 인구의 5%에서 촉진되며 여성이 남성보다 3$\sim$5배 흔하다. 그러나 부검을 통한 연구에서는 갑상선 결절의 빈도가 50% 정도로 보고되어 있다. 최근 건강검진에 고해상도 초음파가 도입되면서 갑상선 결절의 진단이 폭발적으로 증가하고 있다. 갑상선 질환의 기왕력이 없는 성인에서 갑상선 초음파 선별검사로 발견된 갑상선 결절의 유병률을 알아보고, 촉진 가능 여부, 성별, 연령에 따른 차이점을 조사하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 2002년 1월부터 2003년 12월까지 서울아산병원 건강증진센터를 방문하여 갑상선 초음파 검사를 시행한 20세 이상 79세 이하의 수진자 중 갑상선 질환의 기왕력이 있는 867명을 제외한 7,440명(여성 6,168명, 남성 1,272명)을 대상으로 하였다. 모든 대상자들에서 촉진을 통해 갑상선 결절의 유무를 확인한 후 12 MHz 선형 탐색자를 사용하여 초음파 검사를 시행하였다. 결과: 전체 대상자 7,440명 중 3,040명(41%)에서 갑상선 결절이 발견되었고 촉진되는 결절은 3%, 촉진되지 않으나 초음파에서 발견되는 결절은 38%이었다. 여성 중 2,602명 (42.2%), 남성 중 370명(29%)에서 갑상선 결절이 발견되었는데, 여성은 159명(2.6%)에서 남성은 54명(4.2%)에서 촉진되는 갑상선 결절을 가지고 있었고, 여성 중 2,443명(39.6%), 남성 중 316명(24.8%)에서는 촉진되지 않는 결절이 초음파로 발견되었다. 연령이 증가함에 따라 갑상선 결절의 유병률은 유의하게 증가하였다. 결론: 갑상선 질환의 기왕력이 없는 성인에서 갑상선 초음파 선별검사로 발견된 갑상선 결절의 빈도는 41%이었다. 촉진되는 결절은 3%, 촉진되지 않으나 초음파에서 발견되는 결절은 38%로 나타났다. 남녀별 유병률은 여성이 42.2%, 남성이 29%로 남성에서도 갑상선 결절이 매우 흔한 질환임을 알 수 있었다.

Keywords

References

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