Volume 49, Issue 4 (3-2026)
Research in Medicine 2026, 49(4): 0-0 |
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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)
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: (23 Views)
Background and Aim: Benign breast diseases (BBDs) constitute a heterogeneous group of non-cancerous breast conditions, representing a significant portion 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 TI-RADS (Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System) scoring system to quantify the severity of thyroid abnormalities.
Methods:This case-control study was conducted between August 2021 and September 2022, enrolling women over 18 years of age. Cases were women diagnosed with benign breast disease (BBD), confirmed by pathology, imaging, or clinical findings by physicians and surgeons at our breast imaging clinic. Fifty BBD patients and 50 healthy controls participated. Data collected included demographics, baseline clinical information, anti-TPO antibody levels, and breast and thyroid ultrasound examinations. Age, sex, and BMI matching was performed between cases and controls to minimize confounding. Thyroid ultrasound findings were categorized using TI-RADS. To compare the mean of quantitative parameters between the two groups, the Student’s t-test was used; to compare the percentage or frequency of each item between the two groups, the Chi-square test was applied. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to analyze nonparametric data between the two groups.
Results: A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. No significant differences were found in demographic data or thyroid examination findings between the BBD (benign breast disease) 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) compared to 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 to controls.
Conclusion: It seems that an increased prevalence of higher TI-RADS scores (indicating abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings) in women with BBD compared to healthy controls. Controls showed a higher proportion of normal findings, while TI-RADS II scores were approximately similar in both groups. Elevated anti-TPO levels were also observed in the BBD group. Our findings indicate an increased risk of abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings in women with BBD.
Methods:This case-control study was conducted between August 2021 and September 2022, enrolling women over 18 years of age. Cases were women diagnosed with benign breast disease (BBD), confirmed by pathology, imaging, or clinical findings by physicians and surgeons at our breast imaging clinic. Fifty BBD patients and 50 healthy controls participated. Data collected included demographics, baseline clinical information, anti-TPO antibody levels, and breast and thyroid ultrasound examinations. Age, sex, and BMI matching was performed between cases and controls to minimize confounding. Thyroid ultrasound findings were categorized using TI-RADS. To compare the mean of quantitative parameters between the two groups, the Student’s t-test was used; to compare the percentage or frequency of each item between the two groups, the Chi-square test was applied. The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to analyze nonparametric data between the two groups.
Results: A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. No significant differences were found in demographic data or thyroid examination findings between the BBD (benign breast disease) 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) compared to 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 to controls.
Conclusion: It seems that an increased prevalence of higher TI-RADS scores (indicating abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings) in women with BBD compared to healthy controls. Controls showed a higher proportion of normal findings, while TI-RADS II scores were approximately similar in both groups. Elevated anti-TPO levels were also observed in the BBD group. Our findings indicate an increased risk of abnormal thyroid ultrasound findings in women with BBD.
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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