BACKGROUND: Few studies have recently showed functional and morphological changes of the thyroid gland in relation to @entity28 . To our knowledge, no data are available about the prevalence of thyroid nodules in @entity28 @entity1 . The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of thyroid nodules in morbidly @entity28 @entity1 . METHODS: One hundred eight consecutive @entity28 @entity1 were selected from those referred to our medical and surgery outpatients providing that following criteria were satisfied: (1) affected by @entity5845 (body mass index (BMI) >40  kg/m(2)); (2) no previous diagnosis of @entity1374 ; (3) biochemically proven euthyroid state at the time of recruitment. Ninety-seven control subjects, constituted by normo-weight and/or slightly overweight (BMI    <=   30  kg/m(2)) @entity1 , should satisfy the above criteria 2 and 3. All the subjects were submitted to ultrasound investigation. RESULTS: The two groups of @entity1 displayed no differences for age and fT4 levels. @entity28 @entity1 clearly showed a lower prevalence of thyroid nodules [odds ratio 0.294, 95% confidence interval 0.206-0.382]. A single nodule was found in 23% of @entity28 @entity1 as compared to 65% of control subjects (p   <   0.0001). No difference for age (year) was found between @entity28 and @entity28 subjects with nodules (40.5        8.2 vs. 44.2        8.9, respectively, p   =   0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Our data clearly show a significantly lower prevalence of thyroid nodules in morbidly @entity28 @entity1 . Further studies are needed to confirm and to understand this first observation.

XXXX in @entity1 is associated to a lower prevalence of thyroid nodules.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients'] @entity5845 :: ('MESH:D009767', 'Disease') :: ['morbid obesity'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['female obese', 'Obese', 'non-obese', 'obese', 'obesity'] @entity1374 :: ('MESH:D013959', 'Disease') :: ['thyroid disease']
@entity5845 :: (MESH:D009767,Disease) :: ['Morbid obesity']
