[Mastopathy and simple goiter--mutual relationships]

There have been assessed physical and ultrasonographic examination in patients with mastopathy and concentration of prolactin, thyrotropin, thyroxine in blood serum of these patients. The examination was carried out in 65 patients with mastopathy (group M), at the age ranging from 18 to 53 years, and in 30 healthy women (group K), at the age from 18 to 55 years as a reference group. The group of the patients with mastopathy and the control group were divided into three subgroups (taking into account the age and function of ovaries). There were excluded from the examined group patients whose general health state, particularly endocrinological disease, and applied drugs might condition occurrence of pathological changes in mammary glands. Particular attention was paid to exclusion from examination of patients with both primary and secondary hyperprolactinemia. Non-toxic goitre was found in 80% patients with mastopathy, and the results of palpation examination of thyroid were confirmed by thyroid ultrasonographic examination. Non-toxic goitre was significantly more often in patients with mastopathy in comparison with healthy women, and there was found significantly higher thyroid volume in these patients. The hormonal evaluation showed first of all significantly higher mean concentration of prolactin in blood serum of the patients with mastopathy than in the blood serum of healthy women in comparison with both the whole examined group and subgroups. There were not significant differences between the mean concentration of thyrotropic hormone, triiodothyronine and thyroxine in blood serum in premenopausal patients with mastopathy and mean concentration of these hormones in healthy women. Only postmenopausal patients were characterized by significantly lower mean concentration of triiodothyronine in comparison with the healthy subgroup.

1. In patients with mastopathy, there often coexists enlargement of thyroid gland, and prolactin may be also considered as an agent which influences genesis of a goitre. 2. It should be thus admitted that hormonal examinations with particular consideration to prolactin and thyroid hormones are appropriate management in diagnosing and treatment of patients with mastopathy.