EVALUATION OF THYROID DISORDERS IN EFFECTIVELY TREATED ACROMEGALIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: Acromegaly patients often develop goiter and thyroid nodules due to continuous stimulation of the thyroid follicle by growth hormon (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Recent studies suggest a decrease in thyroid disease rates in patients who have been successfully treated. This study aimed to investigate thyroid disorders in patients who had cured or controlled the disease. Material and Methods: The patients who were surgically cured or were controlled with at least six months of somatostatin treatment were included in the study. The patients’ GH levels were less than 1 ng/mL, and IGF-1 levels within the age sex adjusted normal range were categorized into controlled patients. Sonographic and biochemical findings of the thyroid gland were recorded. Results: The study included 33 patients with acromegaly (14 males and 19 females) and 50 volunteers (14 males and 36 females). The prevalence of goiter was higher in patients with acromegaly compared to control group (21.2% vs. 6%, respectively; p<0.001). Acromegaly patients had a higher frequency of thyroid nodules, but nodules larger than 1 cm were similar between the two groups. Conclusion: Acromegaly patients still have a high multinodular goiter incidence. Well control of disease may reduce the prevelance of thyroid cancer and risky nodules.