Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of nodular thyroid disease, autoimmune thyroid disease, goiter and primary thyroid dysfunction in patients with active Cushing’s disease.

Patients and methods: Nineteen patients with active Cushing’s disease (17 female, 2 male, mean age 43.16±3.55 years) and forty, age and gender matched healthy volunteers who served as the control group (34 female, 6 male, mean age 47.28±2.31 years) were included in the study. The diagnosis of active Cushing’s disease was determined by, 24 hour urine free cortisol levels, 1 mg dexamethasone suppression test and loss of diurnal rhythm. fT3, fT4, TSH, anti TPO, anti TG measurements and thyroid ultrasound were performed in both groups.

Results: Thyroid gland volume was smaller in patients with Cushing’s disease (11.84±1.5 ml vs 17.85±1.84 ml). The prevalence of goiter was 2/19 (11%) and 12/40 (30%), the prevalence of nodular thyroid disease was 10/19 (52%), and 20/40 (50%), the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease was 7/19 (58%) and 20/40 (50%), the prevalence of primary thyroid disease was 6/19 (27%) and 10/40 (25%) in Cushing’s disease and in control group respectively.

Conclusion: The prevalence of nodular thyroid disease, goiter, autoimmune thyroid disease and primary thyroid dysfunction in Cushing’s disease was found similar to control group.