Table 3.
Comparison between subjects with and without thyroid nodules.
|
Nodules YES (n = 54) |
Nodules NO (n = 57) |
p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex | |||
| M | 18 (33.3) | 25 (43.9) | 0.255 |
| F | 36 (66.7) | 32 (56.1) | |
| Time from first thyroid evaluation (years) | 6.1 ± 0.5 | 5.9 ± 0.6 | 0.100 |
| Age (years) | 51.1 ± 11.1 | 49.8 ± 12.5 | 0.566 |
| Family history (n) | |||
| For thyroid benign alterations | 25 (46%) | 18 (32%) | 0.282 |
| For thyroid malignancy | 3 (6%) | 4 (7%) | |
| Absent | 26 (48%) | 35 (61%) | |
| Weight (Kg) | 69.7 ± 15.6 | 73.4 ± 16.8 | 0.233 |
| BMI (Kg/m2) | 25.4 ± 4.8 | 27.1 ± 6.3 | 0.109 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 115.4 ± 17.1 | 116.3 ± 14.1 | 0.774 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 71.8 ± 10.8 | 72.0 ± 9.3 | 0.931 |
| Smoking habit (n) | |||
| No | 34 (63%) | 37 (65%) | 0.923 |
| Ex | 7 (13%) | 6 (10%) | |
| Yes | 13 (24%) | 14 (25%) | |
| Thyroid volume (mL) | 8.2 ± 2.8 | 7.3 ± 2.1 | 0.108 |
| BSA-adjusted thyroid volume (mL/m2) | 4.6 ± 1.4 | 4.0 ± 1.2 | 0.042 |
| BMI-adjusted thyroid volume (mL/Kg/m2) | 0.33 ± 0.12 | 0.28 ± 0.9 | 0.048 |
| Residual thyroid volume (mL) | 7.87 ± 0.8 | 7.3 ± 2.1 | 0.122 |
| TSH (μIU/mL) | 1.31 ± 0.75 | 1.48 ± 0.71 | 0.229 |
| fT4 (pg/mL) | 10.6 ± 1.29 | 10.4 ± 1.37 | 0.594 |
| fT3 (pg/mL) | 2.7 ± 0.28 | 2.6 ± 0.36 | 0.429 |
| TgAb (IU/mL) | 0.2 ± 0.72 | 1.6 ± 8.82 | 0.268 |
| TPOAb (IU/mL) | 2.4 ± 11.75 | 3.3 ± 16.86 | 0.748 |
Values are expressed as total and percentage (%) or mean and standard deviation (SD). P-value < 0.05 (italics) was considered statistically significant (statistical differences were examined using Student's t test for continuous variable, chi-square and Fisher's exact test for categorical variable) [BMI, body mass index; BSA, body surface area; Residual thyroid volume, thyroid volume excluding nodules; TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone; fT4, free thyroxyne; fT3, free triiodothyronine; TgAb, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies; TPOAb, anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies].