Increased Frequency of Thyroid Nodules and Breast Fibroadenomas in Women with Uterine Fibroids

Abstract

Fibroids or leiomyomas or myomas of the uterus are the most common benign gynecologic disease, while fibroadenomas of the breast are most frequently seen in young women, usually within 20 years after puberty. Multiple tumors in one or both breasts are found in 10-15% of patients. Single thyroid nodules are much more common in women than in men, and their prevalence increases with age. The aim of the present study was to determine cross-sectionally the incidence of solitary thyroid nodules and fibroadenomas of the breast in women with uterine fibroids. In women with uterine adenomas, the frequency of fibroadenomas of the breast was 65% and of thyroid nodules was 38.7%, while in women with a normal uterus, the frequency was 35% and 20%, respectively. Therefore, women with uterine fibroids have an increased incidence of thyroid nodules (t = 4.68, p = 0.030) and of fibroadenomas of the breast (t = 11.74, p = 0.001).

The relationship between thyroid nodules and uterine fibroids

“…The results showed there were no relationships between them. However, in multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of uterine fibroids was the independent factor closely associated with thyroid nodules, as also shown by the previous study [7]. No other clinical parameters but age were shown to be significantly associated with thyroid nodules.…”

“…Recently, Spinos et al released an interesting report that women with uterine fibroids had an increased incidence of thyroid nodule and estrogen might be a common pathophysiologic mechanism for the observed relationship between the two diseases [7]. Suggested findings are frequently encountered in daily clinical practice for thyroid nodule but a true meaning of simultaneous existence of uterine fibroids was not accessed till lately except this one report.…”

Etiopathology, clinical features, and treatment of diffuse and multinodular nontoxic goiters

“…Other factors associated with an increased risk of development of thyroid nodules and goiter include pregnancy (which is associated with an increased prevalence of thyroid nodules and goiter in iodine-deficient, but not iodinereplete areas) [14], and presence of uterine fibroids (which is associated with a two-fold increased risk of thyroid nodules, probably related to estrogen and other physiopathological mechanism) [15]. The pathogenesis of the association between goiter and oral contraceptives remains to be settled and is probably a combination of several direct and indirect effects of sex steroids on the thyroid [16].…”

Benign Breast and Gynecologic Conditions, Reproductive and Hormonal Factors, and Risk of Thyroid Cancer

“…Benign breast disease and endometriosis, along with uterine fibroids, are diagnosed most frequently among reproductive-age women (12, 13) and have also been associated with hormone-related cancers, including breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers (10, 11, 14, 15). Uterine fibroids, which have been associated with an increased prevalence of thyroid nodules (16, 17), proliferate in the presence of estradiol and progesterone (18, 19). In addition to benign breast disease and endometriosis being possible disease precursors (14, 15), benign breast and gynecological conditions could be considered as potential indicators of lifetime sex steroid hormone exposure in epidemiological studies.…”