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.
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.
Authors: L M Pottern; M M Kaplan; P R Larsen; J E Silva; R J Koenig; J H Lubin; M Stovall; J D Boice Journal: J Clin Epidemiol Date: 1990 Impact factor: 6.437
Authors: P D Inskip; M F Hartshorne; M Tekkel; M Rahu; T Veidebaum; A Auvinen; L A Crooks; L G Littlefield; A F McFee; S Salomaa; S Makinen; J D Tucker; K J Sorensen; W L Bigbee; J D Boice Journal: Radiat Res Date: 1997-02 Impact factor: 2.841
Authors: Paolo Trerotoli; Anna Ciampolillo; Giuseppe Marinelli; Riccardo Giorgino; Gabriella Serio Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2005-07-07 Impact factor: 3.295