ULTRASONOGRAPHIC THYROID FINDINGS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Thyroid nodules are by far the most common disorder of the endocrine system. Epidemiological studies have indicated that approximately 5% of women and 1% of men residing in areas with sufficient iodine have palpable thyroid nodules. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the prevalence of thyroid nodules analyzed by ultrasound. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out using thyroid ultrasounds performed from August to December 2019 at an SMS / GO unit. RESULTS: 182 thyroid tests, 162 tests performed on women and 20 on men were analyzed. In the male age group, there is a tendency for normal examinations in the age group from under 30 to 50. In the range of 51 to 60 nodules, two (50%) and normal (50%) were found. From 61 to the largest, there is a tendency to nodules. In the age group of women under 30 years old, the prevalence is of normal exams, in the range of 31 to 40 years old, non-nodular changes, of over 51 the nodules smaller than 1 cm. For larger nodules, the range with the highest incidence is 61 to 70 years. Of the 162 women examined, the average age was 50 years old (10 to 95). Of these patients, 30 (18%) had normal thyroid and 6 (4%) underwent thyroidectomy. Some type of alteration had been found in 126 patients and the nodular alterations totaled 73, being 58 (36%) smaller than 1cm and 15 (9%) larger than 1cm. In 20 male patients, the mean age was 56 years (25 to 79). Of these nine (45%) were within normal limits. Some type of change in 11 (55%) patients and non-nodular changes totaled 6 (30%) and nodular changes in six, with four (20%) smaller than 1cm and two (10%) larger than 1cm. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of thyroid nodules analyzed by ultrasonography in this population was 48%. Female patients have a greater tendency to develop nodules, mainly in the 61 to 70 years age group. It is also noticed that there is a relationship between increasing age and thyroid disorders.