Evaluation of twenty chemical element contents in thyroid adenomas using neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry

Thyroid adenomas (TA) are benign tumors, but there is a 20% possibility of malignant transformation. The distinguishing between the TA and thyroid cancer (TC) is tricky, therefore new TA biomarkers are needed. Furthermore, the role of chemical elements (ChE) in etiology and pathogenesis of TA is unclear. The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate whether significant changes in the thyroid tissue levels of twenty chemical elements (ChE) Al, B, Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Cu, Fe, I, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Si, Sr, V, and Zn exist in the adenomatous transformed thyroid. Thyroid tissue levels of twenty ChE were prospectively evaluated in 19 patients with TA and 105 healthy inhabitants. Measurements were performed using a combination of non-destructive and destructive methods: instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, respectively. Tissue samples were divided into two portions. One was used for morphological study while the other was intended for ChE analysis. It was found that contents of of Al, B, Br, Cl, Cu, Na, and Zn are significantly higher whereas the levels of I some lower. in TA than in normal tissues. It was supposed that the changes in levels Al, B, Br, Cl, Cu, I, Na, and Zn in thyroid tissue can be used as TA markers.