Violante FS, Romano P, Bonfiglioli R, Lodi V, Missere M, Mattioli S, Raffi GB. Lack of association between occupational radiation exposure and thyroid nodules in healthcare personnel.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2003;
76:529-32. [PMID:
12851827 DOI:
10.1007/s00420-003-0443-8]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2002] [Accepted: 03/11/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To investigate whether healthcare workers routinely exposed to low-level ionizing radiation have a higher prevalence of thyroid nodularity.
METHODS
Presence of thyroid nodularity, as assessed by 10-MHz neck ultrasonography, was compared with accumulated radiation doses of 579 exposed university hospital workers (M:F 350:229) obliged to wear a personal dosimeter.
RESULTS
Nodules were detected in 141/579 (24.3%) subjects. Mean accumulated dose was not different among subjects with and without nodules (14.19+/-28.00 mSv vs 17.71+/-32.89 mSv; P=0.12). Duration of occupational exposure (<10 years vs 10-19 years vs >or=20 years) did not affect prevalence of nodularity. At multivariate analysis, only female gender and age were significant risk factors.
CONCLUSIONS
Mildly exposed health workers do not appear to incur any excess risk of thyroid nodularity.
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