Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To evaluate serum and intranodular vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) level thyroid nodules and explore its relevance to ultrasound feature/pathological results.

Methods: A total of 80 patients (62 women and 18 men) with thyroid nodules were included in this prospective study. Thyroid function tests, fine needle aspiration biopsies, ultrasonographic and scintigraphic evaluation were routinely made. In addition, levels of serum and intranodular VEGF, VEGFR-1 were measured. Any possible correlations between serum and intranodular VEGF, VEGFR-1 and biochemical or radiological variables under investigation were sought.

Results: The average age of study group was 54.1±13.3. Average BMI was 27.6±4.2 kg/m². There were no statistically significant differences between sVEGF; nVEGF; nVEGFR-1 based on gender (P>0.005). But serum VEGFR-1 in male was higher than women (P=0.045). Although nVEGFR-1 was significantly higher in normal BMI patients compared with the obese patients; (P=0.02); there were no differences sVEGF, sVEGFR-1 and nVEGFR-1. There were no significant differences between sVEGF; nVEGFR-1; sVEGFR-1 and nVEGFR-1 levels (P>0.05) according to number of nodules (single and multinodular), benign and malignant ultrasonographic features (large nodules >4 cm; microcalcifications; intranodular hypervascularity; irregular border; hypoechoic structure; incomplete thick halo; regional lympadenopathy). When we grouped patients according to the thyroid status; sVEGFR-1 and nVEGFR-1 levels were higher in hyperthyroid patients than euthyroid patient (P<0.05 and P=0.003). In addition, nVEGFR-1 level was higher in hypothyroid patient than thyroid patients. (P=0.016). There were no significant differences sVEGFR-1; nVEGFR-1 and nVEGF levels between the groups according to scintigraphic sign. But sVEGF was found higher in hyperactive nodules than others. sVEGF, sVEGFR 1, nVEGF, nVEGFR1 levels had no significant differences according to thyroid nodule size; (P>0.05). There were no significant differences between sVEGF; sVEGFR-1; nVEGF and nVEGFR-1 levels between malignant/suspicious cytology and benign cytology (P>0.05). Both sVEGFR-1(r=0.29; P=0.008) and nVEGF levels inside nodule (r=0.29; P=0.01). Was significantly raised with increasing age. nVEGFR-1 was decreased with increasing BMI (r=−0.32; P=0.004). There was no relationship between nodule size and sVEGF; nVEGF; sVEGFR1; nVEGFR1 (P>0.05).

Conclusion: As a result; in our study we showed a relationship between sVEGF; nVEGF; sVEGFR-1; nVEGFR1 levels; and age; gender; BMI; hyperthyroidism. The number of malignant or suspicious groups were very small in our study, which is the limitation of this study. Studies which has more number of patients are required to evaluate it.