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Substernal Thyroid Biopsy Using Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration
Published on: November 10, 2014
Interrelationships between age, thyroid volume, thyroid nodularity, and thyroid function in patients with sporadic
A Berghout1, W M Wiersinga, N J Smits
1Department of Endocrinology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The American Journal of Medicine
|November 1, 1990
Summary
Sporadic nontoxic goiter (SNG) progresses with increasing thyroid volume, suggesting diffuse goiter evolves into multinodular goiter with autonomous function over time.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Thyroidology
- Medical Research
Background:
- Sporadic nontoxic goiter (SNG) is a common thyroid condition.
- The natural history of SNG, particularly the progression from diffuse to multinodular goiter and the development of autonomous thyroid function, requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that diffuse goiter precedes multinodular goiter in the natural history of SNG.
- To examine the gradual development of autonomous thyroid function in relation to goiter progression.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey of 102 patients with SNG was conducted.
- Thyroid volume was assessed using ultrasonography.
- Plasma thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were measured using a sensitive immunoradiometric assay.
Main Results:
- Patients with multinodular goiter were older and had larger thyroid volumes compared to those with diffuse or uninodular goiter.
- Plasma free thyroxine (T4) and total triiodothyronine (T3) were elevated, while plasma TSH was lower in SNG patients versus normal subjects.
- A negative correlation was observed between plasma TSH and thyroid volume (y = 8.2x-0.667, r = 0.578, p < 0.001). Thyroid volume showed positive correlations with age and goiter duration, with an annual increase of 4.5%.
Conclusions:
- The findings support a continuous growth pattern in SNG.
- The data suggest an increase in thyroid nodularity and autonomy of thyroid function as thyroid volume increases during the natural course of SNG.
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