Outcomes of patients with bone metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer

ABSTRACT Objective Bone metastases (BM) from differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are associated with poor survival rates. Due to the low frequency of this entity, we performed a multicentric retrospective study that aimed to evaluate the presentation, outcome and causes of death in this population. Subjects and methods We reviewed file records from 10 databases. BM were diagnosed by: i) biopsy and/or ii) radioiodine (RAI) bone uptake + elevated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and/or c) bone uptake of 18-FDG in the PET-CT scan + elevated Tg levels. Results Fifty-two patients with DTC were included (44% male, mean age 54 years); 58% had papillary histology. BM were synchronous with DTC diagnosis in 46% of the participating cases. BM were symptomatic in 65% of the cases. Multiple BM were present in 65% of patients, while simultaneous metastatic disease in additional sites was found in 69%. Ninety-eight percent of patients received treatment for the BM, which included RAI therapy in 42 patients; 30 of them received cumulative RAI doses that were larger than 600 mCi 131I. The mean follow-up after a BM diagnosis was 34 months. The 2- and 5-year survival rates after diagnosis of the first BM were 64% and 38%, respectively. The status on the last evaluation was DTC-related death in 52% of the patients; 26% of them died from direct complications of BM or their treatments. Conclusion BM are usually radioiodine-refractory and are associated with a short overall survival, although most of the patients died of causes not directly related to the BM.

Alta frecuencia de trastornos tiroideos en el síndrome de ovario poliquístico / High frequency of thyroid abnormalities in polycystic ovary syndrome

La prevalencia de trastornos tiroideos (TT) no ha sido suficientemente evaluada en mujeres con síndrome de ovario poliquístico (SOP). El propósito de esta investigación fue examinar dicha relación. En este estudio prospectivo de diseño caso-control, se incluyeron 194 mujeres. El grupo SOP consistió en 142 pacientes diagnosticadas por criterios Rotterdam 2003, y el grupo control incluyó a 52 mujeres sanas apareadas por edad. Se extrajeron muestras de sangre en ayuno para dosajes de T4 libre, tirotrofina, anticuerpos antiperoxidasa (ATPO), insulinemia y glucemia y se calculó el índice HOMA. Un total de 52 pacientes con SOP presentó autoinmunidad tiroidea (AIT+) y/o hipotiroidismo subclínico (HSC) (36.6%) (TT+) en comparación con 7 mujeres del grupo de control (13.5%), lo que representa una frecuencia cinco veces mayor de TT en pacientes con SOP en comparación con los controles (odds ratio ajustado: 5.6; IC 95%: 2.1-14.9; p < 0.001). Las pacientes TT+ tuvieron valores de insulinemia y HOMA significativamente más altos que aquellas sin trastornos tiroideos (TT-) (p < 0.05).Este estudio muestra una alta tasa de TT en mujeres con SOP asociada a mayores niveles de insulinemia y HOMA. Teniendo en cuenta que el SOP, el hipotiroidismo y la autoinmunidad tiroidea pueden tener un profundo impacto en la salud reproductiva, nuestros datos sugieren que las pacientes con SOP deberían ser evaluadas para descartar TT.

The prevalence of thyroid abnormalities (TA) has not been sufficiently assessed in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Our aim was to evaluate this relationship. In this prospective study 194 women were included. The PCOS group consisted of 142 patients (diagnosed by Rotterdam 2003 criteria) and the control group included 52 age-matched healthy women. Fasting blood samples were drawn for free T4, thyrotropin, thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPOAb), fasting insulin, glucose and HOMA-IR were calculated. A total of 52 PCOS patients had either autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT+) and/or subclinical hypothyroidism (HSC) (36.6%) (thyroid abnormalities:TA+) compared with 7 women of the control group (13.5%), accounting for more than a five fold higher prevalence of TA in PCOS patients, compared with the age-matched controls (adjusted odds ratio: 5.6; CI 95%: 2.1 -14.9; p < 0.001). TA+ patients had significantly higher FI and HOMA-IR values than patients without thyroid abnormalities(p < 0.05). These results demonstrate a high rate of TA in young PCOS women, associated with higher levels of FI and HOMA-IR. As PCOS, hypothyroidism and thyroid autoimmunity may have a profound impact on reproductive health, our data indicate that PCOS patients should be screened for TA.