Interrelationship between thyroid nodularity and TSH level.
BACKGROUND: The pathophysiological role of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the development of goiter is controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between thyroid nodularity and serum TSH levels in clinically and biochemically euthyroid patients with non-endemic multinodular goiter. METHODS: We surveyed 44 of our endocrine clinic patients with multinodular goiter. Twenty-five patients with suppressed TSH levels or positive antithyroid antibodies were excluded. The remaining 19 patients were included (group 1). The 19 study subjects were compared with 19 age- and sex- matched controls without any thyroid disease or goiter (group 2). TSH levels in both groups were checked by review of their medical records. RESULTS: In group 1, TSH ranged from 0.68-3.68 IU/mL (normal: 0.4-6.0 IU/mL), with a mean of 1.45 +/- 0.29. In group 2, TSH ranged from 0.38-1.88 IU/mL, with a mean of 1.08 +/- 0.1. The differences of these values, analyzed by paired t test (p=0.22), were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that TSH levels in euthyroid patients with multinodular goiter are not significantly different from those in normal controls.