Volume 49, Issue 4 (3-2026)
Research in Medicine 2026, 49(4): 15-25 |
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Ethics code: http://ethics.research.ac.ir/IR.SBMU.MSP.REC.1399.051
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Rivadeh A, Mahboubi Fooladi Z, Khazaee M. The Association between Benign Breast Disease and Thyroid Abnormalities: A Case-Control Study Using TI-RADS and Anti-TPO. Research in Medicine 2026; 49 (4) :15-25
URL: http://pejouhesh.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-3354-en.html
URL: http://pejouhesh.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-3354-en.html
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. , mahboubiz@sbmu.ac.ir
Abstract: (978 Views)
Background and Aim: Benign breast diseases (BBDs) constitute a heterogeneous group of non-cancerous breast conditions, representing a significant proportion of presentations to breast clinics. These conditions are characterized by a range of clinical presentations and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in overall metabolism, and thyroid hormones exert known effects on breast tissue development, growth, and function. Disruptions in thyroid hormone homeostasis could therefore potentially influence the development or progression of BBD. This study investigated the association between BBD and thyroid dysfunction, utilizing the Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) to assess the severity of thyroid abnormalities.
Methods: This case- control study was conducted between August 2021 and September 2022 and enrolled women over 18 years of age. Cases included women diagnosed with benign breast disease, confirmed by pathology, imaging, or clinical findings by physicians and surgeons at our breast imaging clinic. Fifty patients with BBD and 50 healthy controls were included. Data collected included demographic characteristics, baseline clinical information, anti-TPO antibody levels, and breast and thyroid ultrasound findings. Age, sex, and BMI matching was performed between cases and controls to minimize confounding. Thyroid ultrasound findings were categorized using TI-RADS. The Student’s
t-test was used to compare the means of quantitative variables between the two groups, while the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. The Kolmogorov- Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of data distribution.
Results: A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. No significant differences were found in demographic characteristics or thyroid examination findings between the BBD and control groups. Simple cysts and fibroadenomas were the most prevalent breast pathologies in the BBD group (24% and 20%, respectively). The BBD group exhibited a significantly higher mean anti-TPO antibody level (165.84 ± 58.67 IU/mL) than the control group (67.37 ± 16.47 IU/mL, p = 0.018). The BBD group also showed a significantly higher prevalence of TI-RADS III (16% vs. 4%) and TI-RADS IV (22% vs. 6%) findings compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Women with BBD appear to have a higher prevalence of abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings, as reflected by higher TI-RADS scores, compared with healthy controls. The control group showed a higher proportion of normal thyroid findings, whereas the prevalence of TI-RADS II was similar between the two groups. Elevated
anti-TPO antibody levels were also observed in women with BBD. These findings suggest an increased risk of thyroid abnormalities in patients with benign breast disease
Methods: This case- control study was conducted between August 2021 and September 2022 and enrolled women over 18 years of age. Cases included women diagnosed with benign breast disease, confirmed by pathology, imaging, or clinical findings by physicians and surgeons at our breast imaging clinic. Fifty patients with BBD and 50 healthy controls were included. Data collected included demographic characteristics, baseline clinical information, anti-TPO antibody levels, and breast and thyroid ultrasound findings. Age, sex, and BMI matching was performed between cases and controls to minimize confounding. Thyroid ultrasound findings were categorized using TI-RADS. The Student’s
t-test was used to compare the means of quantitative variables between the two groups, while the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. The Kolmogorov- Smirnov test was used to assess the normality of data distribution.
Results: A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. No significant differences were found in demographic characteristics or thyroid examination findings between the BBD and control groups. Simple cysts and fibroadenomas were the most prevalent breast pathologies in the BBD group (24% and 20%, respectively). The BBD group exhibited a significantly higher mean anti-TPO antibody level (165.84 ± 58.67 IU/mL) than the control group (67.37 ± 16.47 IU/mL, p = 0.018). The BBD group also showed a significantly higher prevalence of TI-RADS III (16% vs. 4%) and TI-RADS IV (22% vs. 6%) findings compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Women with BBD appear to have a higher prevalence of abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings, as reflected by higher TI-RADS scores, compared with healthy controls. The control group showed a higher proportion of normal thyroid findings, whereas the prevalence of TI-RADS II was similar between the two groups. Elevated
anti-TPO antibody levels were also observed in women with BBD. These findings suggest an increased risk of thyroid abnormalities in patients with benign breast disease
Keywords: benign breast disease, breast fibrocystic disease, thyroid nodule, fibroadenoma, anti-TPO antibody, TI-RADS
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Radiology
Received: 2023/12/23 | Accepted: 2026/04/12 | Published: 2026/06/2
Received: 2023/12/23 | Accepted: 2026/04/12 | Published: 2026/06/2
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