Thyroid Nodules Colon Polyps And Gallbladder Polyps In Acromegaly Patients

INTRODUCTION: Acromegaly is a pituitary disease characterized by excess growth hormone (GH) secretion in adults which results in several comorbidities and increased mortality. Studies suggest an increased prevalence of both benign and malignant tumors including thyroid nodules, breast diseases and colon polyps in acromegaly. The risk of gallbladder polyps also seems to be increased in acromegaly Coexistence of thyroid nodules, colon polyps and gallbladder polyps in acromegaly remains uninvestigated.
In this study we aimed to investigate the risk factors for the development of thyroid nodules, colon polyps and gallbladder polyps and we aimed to see whether the presence of thyroid nodules is associated with colon polyps or gallbladder polyps in patients with acromegaly.

METHODS: Thirty eight acromegaly patients who are being followed up in the outpatient clinics of Endocrinology and Metabolism in a tertiary care center were involved in the study. Thyroid ultrasonography (US) was performed by the same experienced observer,abdominal and hepatobiliary ultrasonography reports of all patients with acromegaly were reviewed retrospectively and the colonoscopy reports of all patients were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS: The present study showed that the presence of thyroid nodules colon polyps and gall bladder polyps in acromegaly does not depend on one another. In other words, the coexistence of one or two of these comorbidities in an individual patient does not seem to be associated with the other.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We suggest each acromegaly patient should be evaluated for the presence of thyroid nodules, colon polyps and for gallbladder polyps on its own when clinically indicated.