Prevalence of Benign Breast Diseases in Nodular Goiter and Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases

The evidence regarding association between thyroid diseases and benign and malign breast diseases is increasing. It has been shown that thyroid disorders are more frequent in those with benign breast diseases and that different thyroid diseases have associations with . benign and malign breast diseases and their outcomes. The studies exploring the relationship between thyroid and breast diseases usually have focused on thyroid autoimmunity and functions. In this study, we aimed to reveal the frequency of benign breast conditions in patients with nodular thyroid disease and Hashimoto's disease. Seventy-one women with nodular thyroid disease, ninety-five women with Hashimoto's disease and seventy-two healthy people as a control group were included in the study. After a detailed clinical assessment of the participants, serum thyroid stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine and thyroid peroxidase autoantibody levels were measured, and thyroid and breast ultrasonography were performed by a single operator in order to determine thyroid and breast pathology. Benign breast diseases were detected in 55.7 % of patients with nodular thyroid diseases, in 47.4 % of those with Hashimoto's disease and 29.2 % of control group in the study. The results showed that the frequency of benign breast diseases was significantly higher in nodular thyroid disease and Hashimoto's disease than the control group (pO.05). The results of our study supports the association between benign breast diseases and thyroid diseases. An important implication of this finding is demonstration of the necessity of scanning for potential breast pathology in women with nodular or autoimmune thyroid disease in clinical practice. Key Words: Nodular thyroid disease, Hashimoto's disease, benign breast diseases