Risk Factors of Incidental Thyroid Abnormalities Identified on Low-Dose Chest CT Scans in Department of Energy Workers.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated risk factors of thyroid abnormalities detected on low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) among nuclear weapons workers in a lung cancer screening program.

METHODS

We conducted a matched case-control study of participants with (647 cases) and without (1941 controls) incidental thyroid abnormalities on LDCT, matching on LDCT year and age between August 2006 and June 2023. Multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographic, smoking, and occupational attributes yielded matched adjusted odds ratio (MAOR) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Estimated occupational radiation exposure (medium exposure MAOR: 1.58 [1.07, 2.33] and high exposure MAOR: 1.52 [0.99, 2.33]), female (MAOR: 2.67 [2.03, 3.50]), African American (MAOR: 2.49 [1.79, 3.45]), and obesity (BMI: 30-39.9 kg/m 2 MAOR: 1.53 [1.14, 2.06], ≥40 kg/m 2 MAOR: 2.43 [1.55, 3.82]) were significantly associated with thyroid abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

Further studies of occupationally exposed populations are warranted.