Incidentally discovered thyroid nodules: frequency in an adult population during Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of cervical vessels

In this study, the frequency of thyroid nodules was searched in a population of consecutive patients undergoing routine cervical Doppler evaluation with the use of high-end color Doppler ultrasound units equipped with new technologies that increase nodule conspicuity. Three hundred and fifteen subjects, who had been referred for Doppler ultrasonography of cervical vessel examination, were enrolled in the study. During the examinations, the presence or absence of thyroid nodules, if present, their number (as “single” or “multiple”), the longest diameter, and internal echo pattern of the largest nodule were noted. As a result, one hundred and sixty-one subjects (51 %) were shown to have at least one thyroid nodule. In this subgroup, 54 cases had single and 107 cases had multiple nodules. Incidental thyroid nodules were detected in similar ratios in both men and women (p = 0.34). The results of the study led to the conclusion that half of the elder adult population had at least one thyroid nodule. Use of ultrasound technologies with increasing resolution seems to help significantly in detecting and also evaluating smaller and previously unknown nodules.