[Thyroid gland function in women with breast carcinoma]

Data in the literature concerning thyroid disease in women after treatment of breast cancer differ. The authors examined therefore the thyroid function (thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxine, triiodothyronine, antibodies against thyroid peroxidase and against thyroglobulin) in a random sample of 76 women after ablation of the breast on account of carcinoma. A deviation in some of the investigated indicators was found in 46,7% of the examined women. A total of 10,5% women had an elevated level of thyroid stimulating hormone, in 18,4% both antibodies were positive, in another 11,8% antibodies against thyroglobulin only were positive and in 9,2% antibodies against thyroid peroxidase were positive. In none of the women the thyroxine level was beyond the physiological, i.e. normal range, the triiodothyronine level was elevated in 5,2%. Newly diagnosed subclinical hypothyroidism in 10,5% of the group supports the hypothesis of a more frequent thyroid abnormality in women treated on account of breast cancer. The cause and sequelae of this finding will be investigated.