Table 1.
Characteristics of the study population with followed-up thyroid nodules displaying a rapid nodule growth (increase in nodule volume over 50 % within 24 months), moderate nodule growth (increase in nodule volume over 50 % and over 24 months) and no relevant nodule growth
| Relevant nodule growth | No nodule growth | p value | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid nodule growth <24 months | Moderate nodule growth >24 months | |||
| No. of patients (n) | 73 (%) | 153 (%) | 71 (24 %) | |
| Gender (female, n) | 48 (66 %)a | 115 (75 %)a | 46 (65 %)a | 0.317 |
| Median age at surgery, [range] | 48 [19–81] | 54 [16–84] | 49 [17–78] | 0.476 |
| Nodularity | ||||
| Uninodular | 11 (15 %) | 20 (13 %) | 20 (28 %) | 0.019 |
| Multinodular | 62 (85 %) | 133 (87 %) | 51 (72 %) | |
| Median follow-up duration, months [range] | 13 [6–24] | 41 [25–79] | 24 [6–89] | |
| Initial mean thyroid nodule volume (cm3) | 2.62 ± 0.96 | 2.3 ± 1.31 | 2.47 ± 1.29 | 0.598 |
| Final mean thyroid nodule volume (cm3) | 4.34 ± 1.69 | 5.97 ± 3.78 | 3.26 ± 2.65 | <0.001 |
| Benign disease (n) | 70 (96 %)a | 149 (97 %)a | 41 (58 %)a | |
| Malignant disease (n) | 3 (%)a | 4 (%)a | 30 (42 %)a | |
| Papillary thyroid cancer (>1 cm) | 0 | 0 | 11 | |
| Papillary microcarcinoma (<1 cm) | 0 | 2 | 14 | <0.001 |
| Follicular thyroid cancer | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| Secondary thyroid malignancy | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Therapy with levothyroxine and/or iodinea | 17 (23 %)a | 66 (43 %)a | 46 (65 %)a | <0.023 |
aDisplayed as percentage of the corresponding group