THYROID FUNCTION IN BREAST CANCER

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thyroidal radio-131I clearance rate measured at one hour after intravenous injection of a tracer dose was significantly higher in 29 breast cancer patients with local disease only than in 37 with blood borne metastases or in 117 normal subjects. Chemical protein bound iodine was significantly higher in 13 patients with blood borne metastases than in 311 normal subjects. Ten patients with a history of proven breast cancer, but no present clinical or radiographic evidence of disease, evidenced a clearance rate consistent with that of patients with blood borne metastases. The PBI, however, was normal. Measurements were made of 24 hour uptake, extra-thyroidal retained radioiodide at 24 hours, thyroidal radioiodine accumulation curves, renal radioiodine clearance rates and serum thyroid stimulating hormone level, with no significant findings.