Resum
Aim/Objective: Thyroid lesions are common and range from the incidental, asymptomatic, small solitary nodule to the large and partly intrathoracic masses. Thyroid lesions that are not palpable but identified by radiological imaging for unrelated symptoms are defined as incidentalomas of the thyroid gland.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the ultrasound prevalence of thyroid incidentalomas and describe the ultrasound characteristics of such detected incidentalomas in Nigerian adults.
Methods: This was a prospective study that examined 340 subjects over a period of 6 months. They were selected randomly from volunteers and patients presenting for ultrasound examination of other parts of the body. The subjects had their necks examined by palpation and ultrasound in the department of Radiology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, using a General Electric LogicP5 ultrasound machine with a 6-10MHz linear transducer. Any incidentaloma detected was classified using the ‘Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System’ (TIRADS) classification.
Results: Three hundred and forty (340) subjects comprising of 153 males and 187 females were examined. The ultrasound prevalence of thyroid incidentalomas was 22.4%. Thyroid incidentalomas were more common in females than males but this was not statistically significant. The prevalence of thyroid incidentaloma significantly increased with age up to the seventh decade. Majority of the lesions were solitary, homogenous and cystic.
Conclusion: The ultrasound prevalence of thyroid incidentalomas documented in the study area is high (22.4%) and they were commoner in women and older subjects. Majority of the lesions, 41 (53.95%) were classified as TIRADS 2 (benign lesions).
Keywords: ultrasound, thyroid, incidentalomas, TIRADS
Résumé
Introduction: Leslésions de la thyroïde sont fréquentes et la portée de l’accessoire asymptomatique, petit nodule solitaire et varie de grande partie, aux masses intra-thoracique. Les lésions de la thyroïde qui ne sont pas palpables mais identifiées par l’imagerie radiologique pour les symptômes non-liés sont définis comme incidentalomes de la glande thyroïde.
Objectif: L’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer la fréquence de l’échographie de la thyroïde incidentalomes et de décrire les caractéristiques de l’échographie de ces incidentalomes détectés chez les adultes nigérians.
Méthodes: Il s’agissait d’une étude prospective qui a examiné 340 patients sur une période de 6 mois. Ils ont été choisis au hasard les bénévoles et qui se sont présentés pour un examen échographique d’autres parties du corps. Les patients avaient leurs cous examinés par palpation et échographie dans le département de radiologie au CHU Ibadan, en utilisant le LogicP5 électrique pour l’échographie général avec un transducteur linéaire 6-10MHz. Toute les incidentalomes détectés ont été classés à l’aide de la classification ‘Imaging Reporting thyroïde et Data System ‘(TIRADS).
Résultats: Trois cent quarante (340) patients de sexe confondu (153 hommes et 187 femmes ont été examinés. La fréquence de l’échographie de la thyroïde incidentalomes était de 22,4%. Les incidentalomes de la thyroïde étaient plus fréquents chez les femmes que chez les hommes, mais ce n’était pas statistiquement important. La fréquence des incidentalomes de la thyroïde augmente de façon sensilbement avec l’âge jusqu’à la septième décennie. La majorité des lésions étaient solitaires, homogènes et kystiques.
Conclusion: La fréquence de l’échographie de la thyroïde incidentalomes enrégistrée dans la zone d’étude est élevée (22,4%) et ils étaient plus fréquents chez les femmes et chez les patients âgés. La majorité des lésions, 41 (53,95%) ont été classées comme TIRADS 2 (lésions bénignes).
Correspondence: Dr. Atinuke M. Agunloye, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: tinuagunloye@yahoo.com; tinuagunloye@comui.edu.ng
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