Correlation Analysis of Breast and Thyroid Nodules: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE: Based on physical examination, to explore the relationship between breast mass (BM) and thyroid nodule (TN) prevalence, and to further explore other related factors that affect the occurrence of BM and TN. METHODS: From January 1, 2018, to January 1, 2021, 12,538 female subjects received breast and thyroid ultrasound examinations at the same time in the health examination center of the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic analysis were used to screen the relevant factors affecting TN and BM, and propensity score matching was used to further verify the results of the relationship between breast and thyroid. RESULTS: A total of 4975 (39.7%) of the included subjects have BM and a total of 6315 (50.4%) have TN,2557 (20.4%) had both BM and TN. The logistic regression results show that patients with TN are more likely to suffer from BM [OR = 1.185, 95% CI (1.099–1.278), p<0.0001]. In addition, age, free T4, HDL, height, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and albumin are independent factors affecting the occurrence of BM; patients with BM are more likely to have TN [OR = 1.180, 95% CI (1.094–1.272), p<0.0001], and age, free T3, free T4, AST, ALT, albumin, height, and BMI are independent influencing factors on the occurrence of TN. The result of propensity score matching confirmed the relationship between BM and TN. CONCLUSION: There is a bidirectional pathogenic relationship between BM and TN, women with BM are at increased risk of TN, and women with TN are more likely to have BM. Thyroid hormone is not only related to the occurrence of TN but also affects the occurrence of BM.