An epidemiologic study of thyroid nodules among population in Wuxi of Jiangsu province.

Objective To investigate the prevalence rate and epidemiologic characteristics of thyroid nodules among population in Wuxi.Methods A stratified cluster sampling technique was conducted to select 750 permanent inhabitants aged more than 16 years old in Wuxi of Jiangsu.B-ultrasonography of thyroid and serum thyrotropic-stimulating hormone(TSH)detection were carried out.Results The prevalence rate of thyroid nodules was 22.53% in the studied population.Thyroid nodules were significantly more prevalent in female than in male(27.10% vs 16.82%),and positive rate of thyroid nodules increased with age both in males and females.Regarding the proportion of thyroid size and amount,as well as thyroid nodule volume,there was no significant difference between male and female.There was also no significant difference in serum TSH and thyroid volume between groups with and without thyroid nodules both in men and women.Conclusion This epidemiologic study of thyroid nodules in Wuxi shows that thyroid nodules are highly prevalent.Ultrasonography and thyroid fine-needle aspiration biopsy are essential to detecting thyroid nodule and distinguishing the malignant ones,thereby early detection and intervention could be possible.