Differences between Chemical Elements of Thyroid Benign Nodules and Those of Thyroid Tissue adjacent to Nodules investigated using Neutron Activation Analysis
Author(s):
Vladimir Zaichick
Thyroid benign nodules (TBNs) are the most common diseases of this endocrine gland and are common worldwide. The etiology and pathogenesis of TBNs must be considered as multifactorial. The present study was performed to clarify the role of some chemical elements (ChEs) in the etiology of these thyroid disorders. For this purpose, thyroid tissue levels of calcium (Ca), chlorine (Cl), iodine (I), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), and sodium (Na) were prospectively evaluated in nodular tissue and tissue adjacent to nodules of 79 patients with TBNs. Measurements were performed using neutron activation analysis Results of the study were additionally compared with previously obtained data for the same ChEs in “normal” thyroid tissue.
It was found that mass fractions of Cl and Na in “adjacent” group of samples were approximately 2.7 times and 60% higher, respectively, than in “normal” thyroid. Contents of Ca, Cl, K, Mg, Mn, and Na found in the “nodular” and “adjacent” groups of thyroid tissue samples were very similar, while level of I in “adjacent” group of samples was over 2 times higher than in nodular tissue and almost equals the normal value. From results obtained, it was possible to conclude that the main characteristics of tissue adjacent to TBNs were elevated levels of Cl and Na in comparison with these ChEs contents in “normal” thyroid. The little reduced level of I content in nodular tissue could possibly be explored for differential diagnosis of TBNs and thyroid cancer.
