Thyroid nodules in acromegaly.
OBJECTIVE
We made a prospective study evaluating the prevalence of thyroid nodular disease in acromegalic patients.


METHODS
Thyroid ultrasound and ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy were performed when nodules were detected. Nodules were characterized by cytology and histopathology.


RESULTS
We found high prevalence of nodular thyroid disorder, 23/34 (67%) in acromegalic patients. High risk and malignant cytology were significantly higher in acromegalic patients than in our non-acromegalic population (25% vs. 9%). Differentiated thyroid carcinoma was present in 11% of the acromegalic patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We strongly recommend periodic thyroid evaluation by ultrasound in patients with acromegaly. Fine needle aspiration biopsy should be performed in nodules larger than 10 mm, and in all suspicious nodules, regardless of the size.
División Endocrinología, Hospital J. M. Ramos Mejía, Buenos Aires, Argentina. ameliasu2000@yahoo.com.ar
Amelia
A
Rogozinski
Alejandra
A
Furioso
Patricia
P
Glikman
Marcelo
M
Junco
Rosa
R
Laudi
Adriana
A
Reyes
Alicia
A
Lowenstein
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I