Differences between Chemical Elements of Thyroid Benign Nodules and Those of Thyroid Tissue adjacent to Nodules investigated using Neutron Activation Analysis

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.