Serum thyrotropin as a risk factor for thyroid malignancy in euthyroid subjects with thyroid micronodule

• Published in: Head & neck Vol. 34; no. 7; pp. 949 - 952
• Main Authors: Moon, Seong-Su, Lee, Young-Sil, Lee, In-Kyu, Kim, Jung-Guk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2012; Wiley
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Endocrinopathies; Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration; euthyroid; Female; fine needle aspiration biopsy; Humans; Male; Malignant tumors; Medical sciences; micronodule; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Risk Factors; Thyroid Gland - pathology; thyroid microcarcinoma; Thyroid Neoplasms - blood; Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology; Thyroid Nodule - blood; Thyroid Nodule - pathology; thyroid stimulating hormone; Thyroid. Thyroid axis (diseases); Thyrotropin - blood; Endocrinopathy; Human; Stomatology; Thyroid diseases; Thyroid stimulating hormone; Malignancy; ENT; Thyroid gland; Malignant tumor; Thyroid carcinoma; Fine needle aspiration biopsy; thyroid microcarcinoma; Risk factor; Serum; Cancer; euthyroid; micronodule
• ISSN: 1043-3074; 1097-0347
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.21828

Background An elevated thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level is a risk factor for differentiated thyroid cancer. The present study investigated whether TSH is a risk factor for thyroid microcarcinoma (TMC) in euthyroid subjects with a micronodule. Methods In this cross‐sectional study, 483 euthyroid subjects (77 males patients, 406 females patients) with a thyroid micronodule were enrolled and underwent ultrasound guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy. Serum TSH level was measured in every subject. The final diagnostic outcome (malignant or benign) was defined in conjunction with cytology and histology. Results Compared with the patients below the population mean, patients above the population mean had a significantly higher malignancy rate (10.8% vs 4.8%, p = .025). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed TSH as an independent risk factor for malignancy in euthyroid patients with a micronodule (odds ratio, 1.449; 95% confidence interval, 1.033–2.033; p = .031). Conclusions Measurement of TSH in subjects with a thyroid micronodule is helpful to estimate cancer risk. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012