OBJECTIVE Thyroid disorders are common. Information on the long-term progression of morphologic disorders is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the course of thyroid nodules and volume over a period of up to 10 years. DESIGN AND METHODS Data from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania were used for longitudinal analysis of 10 years, on average. Billing data from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians were matched to the data to exclude participants with thyroid surgery, radioiodine therapy and thyroid carcinoma. Changes in the number and size of thyroid nodules and thyroid volume were observed using ultrasound. RESULTS A total of 1270 participants were included (53% female, median age at baseline 51 years). The proportion of subjects with at least one thyroid nodule increased from 34.9 to 47.5% after 10 years. The majority of participants had an unchanged or reduced number of nodules. About one-quarter had at least one nodule of size ≥ 1 cm. The proportion of participants with goitre increased from 35 to 37% after 10 years. Nevertheless, individual thyroid volume increased by < 1 mL (95% CI: 0.38-3.66) after adjusting for age and BMI irrespective of thyroid medication. CONCLUSION Thyroid nodules and goitre are common. After 10 years, the number of nodules did not increase in about 70% of people. This proportion did not differ substantially when excluding people with thyroid medication. Thyroid volume increased slightly over the follow-up period. These changes do not seem clinically relevant. Our results support a more restrictive approach regarding follow-up diagnostics in asymptomatic patients with thyroid nodules or minimally enlarged thyroid.

中文翻译：

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长达 10 年的甲状腺结节和甲状腺体积的病程：基于人群的队列的纵向分析。

目标 甲状腺疾病很常见。关于形态障碍长期进展的信息很少。本研究的目的是描述长达 10 年的甲状腺结节和体积的过程。设计和方法 来自波美拉尼亚基于人群的健康研究的数据被用于平均 10 年的纵向分析。来自法定健康保险医师协会的账单数据与数据相匹配，以排除甲状腺手术、放射性碘治疗和甲状腺癌的参与者。使用超声观察甲状腺结节的数量和大小以及甲状腺体积的变化。结果 共纳入 1270 名参与者（53% 为女性，基线时的中位年龄为 51 岁）。至少有一个甲状腺结节的受试者比例从 34.9 增加到 47。10年后5%。大多数参与者的结节数量没有变化或减少。大约四分之一的人至少有一个 ≥ 1 cm 的结节。10 年后，甲状腺肿的参与者比例从 35% 增加到 37%。然而，在调整年龄和 BMI 后，无论甲状腺药物如何，个体甲状腺体积增加 < 1 mL (95% CI: 0.38-3.66)。结论 甲状腺结节和甲状腺肿很常见。10 年后，约 70% 的人的结节数量没有增加。在排除服用甲状腺药物的人时，这一比例没有显着差异。甲状腺体积在随访期间略有增加。这些变化似乎与临床无关。