Characteristics of Nodular Goitre and Its Correlation With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of nodular goitre (NG) and the relationship between NG and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods A total of 282 consecutive patients suspicious for thyroid cancer were enrolled. All the patients underwent surgical resection of the thyroid. Laboratory tests, ultrasonography, and pathology data were compared between patients with and without NG. Results Of the 282 patients who underwent surgery, 124 were diagnosed with PTC by pathology. NG accounted for 48.9% (138/282) of all patients, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:3. The rates of PTC and haemorrhage in patients with NG were 23.2% (31/138) and 29.0% (40/138), respectively, both of which were greater than those in patients without NG (p < 0.001). The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in patients with PTC were 2.2 µIU/mL (min, 0.4; max, 109.8) (p = 0.04) and 1.16 ng/mL (0, 2.17, p25, p75) (p < 0.001), respectively, both of which were greater than those in patients with NG. However, the levels of thyroglobulin, thyroglobulin antibodies, and thyroid peroxidase antibodies were not significantly different. Conclusions The proportion of NG in thyroid surgery is very high, and NG carries a high risk of PTC, suggesting that elevated TSH and CEA are closely related to PTC.