Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Clujul Medical, 4(88), p. 494
DOI: 10.15386/cjmed-518
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Background and aims. The most common thyroid disorders, with an increasing detection worldwide, are the thyroid nodules and thyroiditis, which leads to an increase of thyroid cancer incidence. In two different countries with a different exposure to risk factors for thyroid cancer, such as Cyprus and Romania, the rank of thyroid cancer among other neoplasms is very different: the 3 rd most prevalent cancer among females in Cyprus and the 12 th in Romania, respectively. Environmental chemicals, such as bisphenol A have a proven effect on the thyroid function. However, the relation between the exposure to the endocrine disruptor and the development of thyroid nodules, with a potential of malignant transformation has not been previously studied. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential factors that lead to the difference of thyroid nodules incidence in the mentioned countries. Females older than 20 years with no medical history were recruited. Cases were women with ultrasound-confirmed thyroid nodules of size >3mm. Controls were women without thyroid nodules after ultrasound confirmation. All participants provided blood samples for measurements of the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxin (FT4), anti-thyroglobulin (ATg) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (ATPO); urine samples. Demographics, anthropometrics and other relevant information were provided through the administration of a questionnaire. Results. In Romania we selected 51 patients with thyroid nodules (case group) and 41 without thyroid nodules (control group) and in Cyprus 57 cases, respectively 65 controls. After the statistical analysis of the data collected we observed statistically