Ultrasound examination of thyroid diseases in children and adults living in Tula region of Russia

Abstract

A medical team consisting of 36 specialists has examined 36 454 children and adults living in Tula region of Russia, where Cs-137 ground contamination levels are from 3.2 to 5.6 Ci/km 2. A procedure of ultrasound thyroid screening was divided to medical and computer parts. The medical part included registration through individual thyroid examination; ultrasound examination of the thyroid of each person; repeated ultrasound examination of individuals with thyroid abnormalities; fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid, if needed, under ultrasound guidance and blood drawing; and physical examination by endocrinologist. The “Chart of ultrasound screening” was elaborated to summarize ultrasound findings and to simplify the documentation. The computer-based information system assured: database maintenance; saving thyroid images in digital format; providing the patients with the results of their examinations; and obtaining health statistics data. In summary, in the group of 5–9 years of age, no thyroid carcinomas were found; in age group of 10–14 years—0.013%; in age group of 15–19 years—0.044%; in age group of 20–29 years—0.091%; in age group of 30–39 years—0.121%; in age group of 40–49 years—0.553%; in age group of 50–59 years—0.349%.