2021 Volume 36 Issue 1 Pages 32-39
Objective: We performed simultaneous ultrasonography (US) screenings of the thyroid gland and carotid artery on examinees in Ningen Dock. We report on the results of the thyroid lesions and discuss the potential problems associated with incidental thyroid nodules detected with US.
Subjects and Methods: The examinees included 12,827 people who underwent regular health checkups from 2010 to 2013. These checkups included optional cervical US examinations. The number of men and women who underwent these health checkups was almost equal. The mean age was 56.8±11.0 years. In examinees where a high frequency of minor innocent lesions was present in the thyroid gland, we set up an original set of criteria for deciding when to proceed with further detailed examination, both for the sake of patient well-being and for the early detection of underlying conditions. Detailed examination for suspicion of thyroid malignancy was undertaken for thyroid lesions greater than 5mm and follicular tumors greater than 10mm.
Results: Almost half of the examinees had various thyroid gland lesions such as cysts or adenomatous nodules. Over the 4-year period, 1.6% of the examinees who underwent US examination required detailed examination, and 57.1% of these examinations were performed in our hospital. Fifty-four of these examinees were found to have thyroid cancer. Among these, 18 were diagnosed as having papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. The discovery rate of thyroid cancer in this Ningen Dock population was 0.42%, and the presumptive incidence of thyroid cancer was 0.74%.
Conclusions: It is suggested that thyroid US screening using our proposed criteria as part of the regular Ningen Dock checkup is useful for the early detection of thyroid cancer. In the event that individuals are diagnosed with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, they need to be treated with care.
