ABSTRACT
We reviewed 632 cases which had undergone ultrasonograpy for thyroid disorders.(1) The sonographic examination found nodular lesions in 157 cases (including 52 solid tumor cases) and diffuse enlargement in 38 cases. No abnormalities were found in the remaining437 cases.(2) Further examination revealed that the cases of nodular lesions included 7 thyroid cancer cases (6 papillary carcinomas and 1 follicular carcinoma), 2 cases of hyperthyroidism, and 3 cases of hypothyroidism.(3) Diffuse enlargement cases included 5 cases of overactive thyroid (1 subacute thyroiditis and 5 Graves' diseases), 2 cases of underactive thyroid (chronic thyroiditis). Assays for antithyroid autoantibodies showed positive results even in the 31 cases of normal thyroid function.(4) Four in 7 cases diagnosed as thyroid cancer and 5 in 12 cases diagnosed as thyroid dysfunction (4 of 5 cases were elderly people 60 years of age or over) were screened by ultrasonography.<BR>We concluded that ultrasonography is a valuable diagnostic procedure for early detection of not only thyroid malignancies but also disordered thyroid function. Abdominal sonography is often used for screening. The use of ultrasound for the thyroid gland is recommended as a standard procedure in the regular health screening program.
ABSTRACT
The results of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) given to those inhabitants in the western part of Kanagawa Prefecture who visited our hospital for medical examinations between April 1991 and March 1992 were studied comparatively, with their occupation, age, sex, environmental factors and smoking habits taken into account. For this purpose, the subjects totaling 1, 322 were classified into three groups-those who live in the hilly area, those who live in the suburban area and those who live in the coastal area. In the present study, the results of the four PFT items-FVC, FEV 1.0%, FVC and FEV 1.0%-were checked. Careful examination brought into relief the startling fact that many aged people, non-farmers and nonsmokers in the suburban subject group have impaired pulmonary function. It is said that because of the Tokyo-Nagoya expressway and many other motorways, the air in the suburban area is fouled up with exhaust gas to a greater extent than in the other two areas. Although our finding alone could not identify the cause of impaired pulmonary function definitely, air pollution was thought to be a culprit. Further investigation should be made into the living conditions of the examinees. Moreover, environmental monitoring and data analysis have to be carried out in the future.