Prevalence of nodular goiter in patients with breast diseases

Introduction. Various studies have reported conflicting results regarding the relationship between breast and thyroid diseases. The exact pathogenesis behind this association is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of thyroid disease in patients presenting with breast diseases and to examine whether thyroid screening is required in patients with breast diseases. Methodology. All patients attending the department of General Surgery in our institution with breast diseases during the period from December 2015 to September 2017 were enrolled for the study. A thorough clinical examination which included an examination of the neck was done. Thyroid profile and ultrasonography neck were performed in all patients and the pathology in all radiologically diagnosed cases of nodular goiter was confirmed by cytology. Results. We had 128 patients with breast diseases enrolled in the study of which 62 (48%) patients had malignant breast disease and 66 (52%) patients had benign breast disease. None of the patients in our study had a palpable thyroid nodule or a diffuse goiter. Of the 61 patients having malignant breast diseases, 26 (42.6%) patients had a radiologically detected thyroid disease and among the 64 patients with benign breast diseases, 10 (15.6%) had radiologically detected thyroid diseases. Conclusions. In our study the prevalence of nodular goiter was higher in patients with malignant breast diseases than patients with benign breast diseases. However, this prevalence or clinical relevance is not significant enough to warrant screening for thyroid disease in patients with breast diseases.