B737-800 Captain reported concerns over clearing of a Deferred Item. During flight; an airframe vibration was felt; exactly as contained in the Deferred Item. The Captain reported the incident to Maintenance.

Narrative

When I went to pull up the flight plan upon check in; I was given an automated notices that I was 'locked out' by Dispatch with a number to call. Dispatcher explained there was a deferred item that had to be cleared before he would unlock the flight plan; as the plane was only allowed to fly between Maintenance bases with that item. I asked to have it released so I could review the aircraft issue. He declined. Maintenance was at the gate; they removed the Maintenance Discrepancy. I reviewed the original write ups which appeared to start at the end of month with the last one on Date. The write ups described a lot of noise through 270 knots with slight airframe vibration. Several doors had been replaced; etc. There had been no additional reports following the Date write up. On departure; as we accelerated to 270 knots; a loud humming noise with noticeable; but slight; airframe vibration occurred and continued as we accelerated. I called back to the flight attendants and they said they also could hear and feel it; including all the way in the back. They thought it sounded like the 'engines were revving.' The engines all showed normal indications. While we do have an engine vibration checklist; (which was NOT indicated) we don't have an airframe vibration or loud humming noise checklist. I elected to return to ZZZ to have Maintenance assess for airworthiness to ZZZ1.The plane had been operating solely in and out of maintenance bases for several weeks so I didn't think it was a good idea to take it to a special use airport; with a very short runway; until it's airworthiness to land at ZZZ1 could be assessed. I have been flying only Boeing planes for [decades] now. I haven't heard a noise like that before. That led to my unease in continuing to ZZZ1 with the issue unresolved. Further; I start and finish most of my trips in and out of ZZZ1. Consequently I am very familiar with the challenges of that airport. While I've taken planes with all kinds of maintenance issues in and out of there from MEL auto throttles to auto brakes; those issues were all 'known.' This one was 'unknown.'Maintenance issues are part of our environment. When they occur; we have to make the safest decision we can balancing known risks and operational integrity. A flight check with maintenance on board prior to removing the deferred Item would likely have helped them identify the problem? While saying that; I recognize there were a lot of flights that didn't report anything since Date.