Abstract
Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the association of thyroid nodules (TNs) and their ultrasound (US) characteristics related to malignancy with metabolic status. Methods The data were obtained from a cross-sectional study (SPECT-China, 2014-2015). The study included 9898 participants older than 18 years. Participants underwent several checkups, which included the measurement of anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, TSH levels, glucose, and lipid profiles. TN and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were diagnosed by US. TN US characteristics, including microcalcification and a taller-than-wide shape, were recorded. Results Participants with TN [TN(+)] had a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome (Met-S), obesity, central obesity, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, hypertension, and NAFLD, especially women (all P ≤ 0.001). After full adjustment, logistic regression analysis indicated that metabolic syndrome, obesity, central obesity, and hyperlipidaemia were all independent risk factors for the increased prevalence of TN in both genders (P < 0.05). In terms of TN US imaging characteristics associated with malignancy, being female with obesity, central obesity, and NAFLD had 1.91-fold, 2.09-fold, and 1.75-fold increased risks of developing a taller-than-wide nodule (P = 0.014, 0.004, and 0.027, resp.). Conclusions The status of metabolic disorders might be associated with higher risks of TN in both genders. In women, obesity, central obesity, and NAFLD might contribute to the development of a taller-than-wide nodule. The potential role of metabolic status in the pathogenesis of the thyroid nodule and thyroid cancer remains to be elucidated.
Highlights
The American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer [1] recently declared that thyroid nodules (TNs) are a common clinical problem, and differentiated thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent
The objective of the present study was to investigate whether different metabolic risk factors and metabolic diseases, including obesity, central obesity, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome (Met-S), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), were associated with TN and their US imaging characteristics related to malignancy
We evaluated the relationship between the above US characteristics associated with malignancy with metabolic diseases
Summary
The American Thyroid Association Guidelines Task Force on Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer [1] recently declared that thyroid nodules (TNs) are a common clinical problem, and differentiated thyroid cancer is becoming increasingly prevalent. In China, the prevalence of thyroid nodules is high, even in healthy adults, at approximately 30 to 50% [5,6,7], and thyroid cancer has become one of the ten most common cancers in the Chinese population, especially among women [8]. One study predicted that papillary thyroid carcinoma will become the third most common cancer in women in the United States by 2019 [9]. Based on these issues, further study of the relevant risk factors for TN and thyroid cancer is required
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