THYROID ULTRASOUND FINDINGS 7 YEARS AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT - A COMPARATIVE EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY IN THE BRYANSK REGION OF RUSSIA

Aims: The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power station occurred in April 1986. We report on a comparative epidemiological study on thyroi d abnormalities in the contaminated and uncontaminated populations of the Bryansk region, South-West Russia, in 1993, 7 years after the acci dent. Material and Methods: The study material consisted of all inhabi tants aged 3-34 years in the contaminated village of Mirnyi and in the uncontaminated village of Krasnyi Rog, excluding those who had moved to the villages after the accident. The total material comprised 302 i nhabitants in Mirnyi and 200 in Krasnyi Rog. Results: No pathological US findings in either village were found in children born after the ac cident. In the age group 0-9 years old at the time of the accident, th e prevalence of thyroid abnormalities was 8.1% in the contaminated vil lage compared to 1.6% in the uncontaminated village. In the age group 10-27 years the corresponding figures were 18.8% and 17.7%. Only 55% o f the pathological US findings were detected by physical palpation. Co nclusion: The total prevalence of thyroid abnormalities was higher amo ng children in the contaminated village. We recommend an active screen ing of young contaminated subjects with US, supplemented with fine nee dle biopsy.