Thyroid nodular characteristics in Cyprus and Romania

Background: Thyroid nodules or thyroiditis are common thy-roid disorders that are increasingly detected, worldwide. InCyprus, thyroid cancer is 3rd most prevalent cancer type amongfemales, while in Romania, it ranks 15th. Associations betweenexposures to environmental chemicals, such as bisphenol Aand their effects on thyroid function have been previouslyexplored. However, the contribution of such exposures towardsthe development of thyroid nodules that could potentially leadto malignancy has not been previously studied.Materials and methods: A pilot case-control study comparingfemales with ultrasound-diagnosed thyroid nodules and healthycontrols was designed. Recruitment is ongoing, but so far, 122Cypriot and 51 Romanian females had been recruited. Data onthyroid antibodies (antiTPO, antiTg), levels of thyroid stimu-lated hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4) and the number andsize of thyroid nodules were recorded.Results: A total of 104 cases and 69 controls has been so farrecruited in both countries. The mean age of cases and controlswas 52 and 49 years, respectively, while their mean body massndex was 274kgm2, and 251kgm2. The majority of partic-ipants were nonsmokers (80%) and about 3% reported alcoholconsumption more than twice weekly. Cypriot and Romaniancases had similar mean TSH levels (159 and 163 mIU L1,respectively) while the mean FT4 levels were lower for theRomanian cases compared to the Cypriot ones (879 and 1269pmol L1, respectively). Data on the number, size and morphol-ogy of thyroid nodular characteristics will be discussed.Conclusions: This exploratory study will pave the way forinvestigating the effects of environmental exposures on thyroidnodular disease in two different populations from two countrieswith contrasting thyroid cancer incidence rates

Thyroid nodular characteristics in Cyprus and Romania

Background: Thyroid nodules or thyroiditis are common thy-roid disorders that are increasingly detected, worldwide. InCyprus, thyroid cancer is 3rd most prevalent cancer type amongfemales, while in Romania, it ranks 15th. Associations betweenexposures to environmental chemicals, such as bisphenol Aand their effects on thyroid function have been previouslyexplored. However, the contribution of such exposures towardsthe development of thyroid nodules that could potentially leadto malignancy has not been previously studied.Materials and methods: A pilot case-control study comparingfemales with ultrasound-diagnosed thyroid nodules and healthycontrols was designed. Recruitment is ongoing, but so far, 122Cypriot and 51 Romanian females had been recruited. Data onthyroid antibodies (antiTPO, antiTg), levels of thyroid stimu-lated hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4) and the number andsize of thyroid nodules were recorded.Results: A total of 104 cases and 69 controls has been so farrecruited in both countries. The mean age of cases and controlswas 52 and 49 years, respectively, while their mean body massndex was 274kgm2, and 251kgm2. The majority of partic-ipants were nonsmokers (80%) and about 3% reported alcoholconsumption more than twice weekly. Cypriot and Romaniancases had similar mean TSH levels (159 and 163 mIU L1,respectively) while the mean FT4 levels were lower for theRomanian cases compared to the Cypriot ones (879 and 1269pmol L1, respectively). Data on the number, size and morphol-ogy of thyroid nodular characteristics will be discussed.Conclusions: This exploratory study will pave the way forinvestigating the effects of environmental exposures on thyroidnodular disease in two different populations from two countrieswith contrasting thyroid cancer incidence rates

Investigation of thyroid nodules in the female population in Cyprus and in Romania

Background and aims. The most common thyroid disorders, with an increasing detection worldwide, are the thyroid nodules and thyroiditis, which leads to an increase of thyroid cancer incidence . In two different countries with a different exposure to risk factors for thyroid cancer, such as Cyprus and Romania, the rank of thyroid cancer among other neoplasms is very different: the 3rd most prevalent cancer among females in Cyprus and the 12th in Romania, respectively. Environmental chemicals, such as bisphenol A have a proven effect on the thyroid function. However, the relation between the exposure to the endocrine disruptor and the development of thyroid nodules, with a potential of malignant transformation has not been previously studied. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential factors that lead to the difference of thyroid nodules incidence in the mentioned countries. Methods. A pilot case-control study has been conducted in 2014-2015 in the "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă" Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and the Endocrinology Department of Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. Females older than 20 years with no medical history were recruited. Cases were women with ultrasound-confirmed thyroid nodules of size >3mm. Controls were women without thyroid nodules after ultrasound confirmation. All participants provided blood samples for measurements of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), anti- thyroglobulin (ATg) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO); urine samples. Demographics, anthropometrics and other relevant information were provided through the administration of a questionnaire. Results. In Romania we selected 51 patients with thyroid nodules (case group) and 41 without thyroid nodules (control group) and in Cyprus 57 cases, respectively 65 controls. After the statistical analysis of the data collected we observed statistically significant differences between the populations of the two countries regarding BMI and the value of the thyroid hormones and antibodies. Conclusions. Using the data observed in this study, differences were found between Cyprus and Romania among females with thyroid nodules the BMI, and the level of thyroid hormones had statistically significant differences. This study reports preliminary data, further analysis of environmental exposures to chemical factors that might have a certain influence over the thyroid in the two countries will follow

Investigation of thyroid nodules in the female population in Cyprus and in Romania

Background and aims. The most common thyroid disorders, with an increasing detection worldwide, are the thyroid nodules and thyroiditis, which leads to an increase of thyroid cancer incidence . In two different countries with a different exposure to risk factors for thyroid cancer, such as Cyprus and Romania, the rank of thyroid cancer among other neoplasms is very different: the 3rd most prevalent cancer among females in Cyprus and the 12th in Romania, respectively. Environmental chemicals, such as bisphenol A have a proven effect on the thyroid function. However, the relation between the exposure to the endocrine disruptor and the development of thyroid nodules, with a potential of malignant transformation has not been previously studied. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential factors that lead to the difference of thyroid nodules incidence in the mentioned countries. Methods. A pilot case-control study has been conducted in 2014-2015 in the "Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuţă" Institute of Oncology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and the Endocrinology Department of Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, Nicosia, Cyprus. Females older than 20 years with no medical history were recruited. Cases were women with ultrasound-confirmed thyroid nodules of size >3mm. Controls were women without thyroid nodules after ultrasound confirmation. All participants provided blood samples for measurements of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), anti- thyroglobulin (ATg) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO); urine samples. Demographics, anthropometrics and other relevant information were provided through the administration of a questionnaire. Results. In Romania we selected 51 patients with thyroid nodules (case group) and 41 without thyroid nodules (control group) and in Cyprus 57 cases, respectively 65 controls. After the statistical analysis of the data collected we observed statistically significant differences between the populations of the two countries regarding BMI and the value of the thyroid hormones and antibodies. Conclusions. Using the data observed in this study, differences were found between Cyprus and Romania among females with thyroid nodules the BMI, and the level of thyroid hormones had statistically significant differences. This study reports preliminary data, further analysis of environmental exposures to chemical factors that might have a certain influence over the thyroid in the two countries will follow