Objective To study the prevalence of thyroid gland nodules in elderly women, and to evaluate the relationship between the features of nodule and the thyroid gland function. Methods A total of 226 patients aged over eighty years were randomly recruited for the study. All patients had ultrasound examination and thyroid gland function tests(FT₃,FT₄,TSH). Results Thyroid nodules were detected in 74.8%(169/226) of the elderly women, and no significant difference between the age groups(P>0.05). Although in each age group multiple nodules were dominant, there was no statistically significant difference(P>0.05). Comparison between normal group and thyroid gland nodules group shoued no differeuce in thyroid gland function various indexes(P>0.05). Conclusions The incidence of thyroid nodules in elderly women is high and tends to be stable. Multiple nodules was prominent in elderly women. The thyroid gland nodules have no obvious influence to the thyroid gland function.