Retrospective evaluation of nodular goiter frequency and thyroid function tests in acromegaly patients

Objective: It was planned to retrospectively analyse the frequency of nodular thyroid development, thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy rate, prevalence of thyroid malignancy and thyroid function tests in patients with acromegaly. Materials and Methods: Between 2012 and 2013, a total of 84 patients who were diagnosed with acromegaly and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study from the patients who applied to Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Endocrinology outpatient clinic. Data related to age, gender, diagnosed growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), sT4, sT3, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), oral glucose suppression test (OGST), L-Dopa growth hormone stimulation test (L-Dopa), thyroid ultrasonography (USG), thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy (TİİABx) results of these patients were evaluated. The study was performed as a single centre and retrospective file review. Findings: The study included 84 patients, 41 (48.8%) females and 43 (51.2%) males. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.05±14 years. The age at diagnosis was ≥ 50 years in 56% (n=47) patients and < 50 years in 44% (n=37) patients. Thyroid function tests revealed that 79.76% (n=67) were euthyroid, 7.14% (n=6) were subclinical hyperthyroidism, 1.2% (n=1) were subclinical hypothyroidism, 9.52% (n=8) were overt hypothyroidism and 2.38% (n=2) were overt hypothyroidism. TSH value was normal in 83.3% (n=70), sT4 value in 89.2% (n=75) and sT3 value in 91.6% (n=77) of the patients. Thyroid USG was performed in 84.52% of the patients included in the study and 28.9% (n=22) were normal, 6.5% (n=5) had a single nodule and 56.5% (n=43) had more than one nodule. Total thyroidectomy (TT) was performed in 8.3% (n=7) of the patients without a diagnosis of acromegaly. TIABx was performed in 34.2% (n=27) of the patients; 8% (n=2) of them were malignant. Papillary thyroid cancer developed in 4.7% (n=4) of the patients after the diagnosis of acromegaly. Results: The prevalence of thyroid nodules and malignancy was higher in patients with acromegaly than in the normal population. No significant correlation was found between thyroid nodule size and number of nodules and GH and IGF-1. Keywords: Acromegaly, Growth Hormone, IGF-1, Thyroid Nodule, Nodular Goiter