The relationship between occupational radiation exposure and thyroid nodules

Adibi A et al. – In this study, there was no correlation between occupational chronic exposure to a low dose of radiation and the risk of developing thyroid nodules.

Methods

• In this case control study the prevalence of thyroid nodules in radiation exposed workers was determined by ultrasonography which was performed by a radiologist.
• The results were compared with the results of another study among the adult population of Isfahan city which were selected by Cluster – random sampling method.
• The two studied groups were matched according to sex and age.

Results

• The studied population in case and control groups was 124 and 471 respectively.
• The prevalence of thyroid nodule in the case and control groups was 22.6% and 24.6% respectively (p > 0.05).
• Thyroid nodule was more prevalent in females in the control group but there was no difference between the females and males of the case group (p > 0.05).
• The number of thyroid nodules (single or multiple) and calcification were not different for the two groups (p > 0.05).
• Moreover, the echo pattern of thyroid nodules for hypoechogenicity was not different in the two groups (p > 0.05).

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