Background and Objectives: Exposure to radiation is more likely to develop thyroid nodules. Radiography technicians are exposed to radiation. This study compares the prevalence of thyroid nodules among Saudi radiographic technicians compared to other health professions not exposed to radiation. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to determine thyroid nodules among Saudi radiographic technicians. The case and control groups included 200 and 710 individuals, respectively. Participants were interviewed and given a questionnaire about their past exposure to radiation and subjected to a thyroid gland ultrasound scan after giving written permission to participate in the study. Results: Thyroid nodules were recorded in 34% of cases and 9% of controls. Females outnumber male thyroid nodules by a factor of two for both groups. Thyroid nodules were more common in those over 45 in both groups. The study recorded thyroid nodules in the case group in association with the long duration of exposure to radiation (P. value < 0.05) whereas no such difference was reported in the controls. The two groups had varied numbers of thyroid nodules. The case group had more thyroid nodules. Single echo abnormalities were seen in 41.8% of cases, numerous anomalies in 20.5%, and diffuse anomalies in 38.2%. The research showed a link between age and thyroid nodules in both groups (P 0.05). Conclusion: The research discovered significant evidence that chronic low-dose radiation exposure may increase thyroid nodules. When radiographic technicians deal with radiation, they must adhere to safety precautions.
Keywords: Thyroid Nodules, Radiography Technicians, Radiation Exposure