EVALUATING UTILITY OF ULTRASOUND EXAMINATION IN ASSESSING THYROID GLAND ABNORMALITIES IN SAUDI ARABIAN POPULATION

Objectives: Ultrasound imaging was conducted to identify the thyroid gland abnormalities and its incidence rate among residents of Aseer region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A non-intervention prospective study was designed A total of 281 participants (age range from 7 to 80 years) were randomly selected at Aseer Region and Radiology Department, King Khalid University (KKU) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), from 8 th to 16 th March 2015 data was collected by using demographic characteristics gathered through fixed questionnaires and the thyroid abnormalities detected using Ultrasonography (USG) within period of 7 days. The frequencies of specific thyroid findings were analyzed using Statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: 40 (14.2%) cases of incidental thyroid abnormalities were observed of which 31 (11%) were cases of thyroid nodules, 25 (8.9%) were cases of cystic nodules, 6 (2.1%) were cases of solid nodules, 8 (2.5%) were cases of goiter and 1 (0.4%) was a case of Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Higher incidence rate of thyroid nodules was observed among 11-20 years old age group. A majority of nodules were benign in nature and were smaller (< 5mm) in size. Conclusion: USG is an inexpensive and noninvasive diagnostic imaging tool to identify and classify thyroid abnormalities in a population. Hence USG should be routinely used in the long-term management of thyroid heath of resident of Aseer region of KSA.