Over the past 10 months, we have performed mass screenings for thyroid diseases on the inhabitants of Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, in cooperation with the women's department of the local agricultural cooperative. The number of examinees so far has reached a total of 2, 481 persons-2, 025 women and 456 men.
By palpation, goiter has been found in 208 (8.4%) persons-204 women and 4 men. The detection ratio was low when compared with the percentage recorded in Kamaishi, and higher than those in Kofu and Chiba.
Out of the 208 persons, 152 men and women underwent further examination, with the result that simple goiter was found in 35 persons; subacute thyroiditis in one person; chronic thyroiditis in 44; Basedow's disease in 8; and nodular goiter in 64.
Aizu stood highest next only to Kamaishi on the list in the chronic thyroiditis detection ratio. Kofu and Chiba followed in that order. As regards adenoma and adenomatous goiter in the thyroid grand, Aizu was on a par with Kamaishi, outdistancing Kofu and Chiba. Thyroid cancer was found less in Aizu than in Kamaishi and Kofu, but more or less at the same ratio with Chiba. As for Basedow's disease, Aizu ranked first.