Retrospective Study Evaluating Histopathological Thyroid Findings in an Iodine-Sufficient Area: Correlation with Anthropometric Characteristics and Thyroid Gland Morphological Parameters

Ioannis Legakis*, Theodoros Bourchas, Stylianos Archontakis, Vasilis Psaltakos and GP Chrousos

Objectives: To examine the association between thyroid nodular formation and histopathological outcomes in an iodine-sufficient region, we retrospectively reviewed histopathological findings from surgically excised thyroid specimens collected over three years (2021–2023) at Henry Dunant Hospital in the metropolitan area of Athens. Histological diagnoses, along with patient anthropometric characteristics and thyroid morphological parameters, were analysed to evaluate malignancy risk and enhance prognostic assessment.

Methods: Histopathological reports from 192 patients (138 men and 54 women) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were categorised into three age groups: Group A (<40 years: 42 men, 14 women), Group B (40–69 years: 87 men, 35 women), and Group C (≥69 years: 9 men, 5 women). Correlations were performed between anthropometric characteristics and thyroid morphological parameters, including gland weight, gland dimensions, and the number of nodules per lobe.

Results: An age-related increase in thyroid gland weight was observed, which was more pronounced in the female population (p < 0.027). Multinodular goitre was present in more than 80% of patients across all age groups. In women aged 40–49 years, a significantly larger nodule diameter was observed in the right thyroid lobe. In contrast, an increase in the number of nodules was noted exclusively in the left lobe of men aged ≥69 years.

The prevalence of a solitary thyroid nodule was similar in men aged <40 and 40–69 years (23.8% and 24.1%, respectively), while women showed a higher prevalence in the <40-year age group (42.9%).

No statistically significant sex-related differences were observed in the incidence of papillary or follicular thyroid carcinoma. However, papillary carcinoma predominated over follicular carcinoma in both sexes within the <40 and 40–69 age groups. Metastatic disease was more frequently observed in men aged 40–69 years. Medullary carcinoma was identified exclusively in men, with a prevalence of 2.3% in the 40–69-year age group. Follicular adenoma was the most common histopathological diagnosis across all age groups.

Conclusions: Consistent with previous reports, follicular adenoma was the most frequent histopathological finding in patients with multinodular goitre, while papillary carcinoma represented the predominant thyroid cancer subtype. Thyroid gland weight increased with age, particularly among women, but this increase was not associated with a higher risk of malignancy. Further studies are required to confirm these findings and better define their implications for long-term clinical outcomes.

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Published on: Mar 11, 2026 Pages: 1-9

Full Text PDF Full Text HTML DOI: 10.17352/ijcem.000067
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