ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL
High prevalence of thyroid nodules in patients with achrocordons (skin tags). Possible role of insulin-resistance
Jorge Rezzónico1, Mariana Rezzónico1, Eduardo Pusiol1, Fabián Pitoia2, Hugo Niepomniszcze2
1Centro Privado de Endocrinología, Mendoza;
2División Endocrinología, Hospital de Clínicas,
Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires
Postal address: Hugo Niepomniszcze, División Endocrinología, Hospital de Clínicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. Córdoba 2351, 1120 Buenos Aires, Argentina Fax: (54-11) 4555-0472 e-mail: hniepom@elsitio.net
Abstract
Due to the observation of a great number of patients having achrocordons, when they underwent
fine needle biopsies for thyroid nodules, we decided to perform a prospective study to investigate
the relationship between this finding and the presence of insulin resistance (IR), since achrocordons are commonly
seen in hyperinsulinemic subjects. A total of 120 consecutive women, aged 18-35 yrs were studied. All
subjects were also evaluated by thyroid ultrasound (US) for measuring thyroid volume and the presence of nonpalpable
nodules. Basal and post-prandial serum insulin was measured in all of them, as well as the Homeostasis
Model Assessment (HOMA). Subjects were divided in two groups: Group A, with achrocordons (n = 44) and
Group B, without achrocordons (n = 76). Group A showed 24 patients (54.5%) with thyroid nodules, whereas
Group B only 13 subjects (17.1%); p = 0.0087. When we considered, as having high normal thyroid volume, the
glands weighting more than 16 grams by US, without nodules, it was found that 8/44 cases from Group A (18.6%)
and 3/76 from Group B (3.9%) fitted in such category, p = 0.0076. In patients with nodules and/or bigger thyroids,
IR was observed in 36/44 (81.8%) of Group A and 14/76 (18.4%) of Group B, p = 0.0069, while the overall
prevalence of IR was 0.47 in Group A and 0.05 in Group B, p = 0.00094. It is concluded that patients with
achrocordons have a higher prevalence of US-detected thyroid nodules and larger thyroid glands. Then, it may
be beneficial to search for thyroid abnormalities in those subjects with skin tags.
Key words: Thyroid nodules; Insulin resistance; Skin tags
Resumen
Alta prevalencia de nódulos tiroideos en pacientes con acrocordones (fibromas blandos).
Posible papel de la insulino-resistencia. Debido a la alta frecuencia de acrocordones en pacientes
que concurrían a nuestro servicio para realizar punciones aspirativas de nódulos tiroideos, realizamos un
estudio prospectivo para investigar la relación entre este hallazgo y la presencia de insulino resistencia (IR),
dado que los acrocordones son frecuentemente observados en pacientes hiperinsulinémicos. Se incluyeron 120
pacientes consecutivas, con edades entre 18 y 35 años. Todas fueron evaluadas con una ecografía tiroidea
para determinar su volumen y la presencia de nódulos no palpables. Se midió insulinemia basal y post prandial,
así como el índice Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA). Las pacientes se dividieron en 2 grupos: Grupo A,
con acrocordones (n = 44) y Grupo B, sin acrocordones (n = 76). En el Grupo A se encontraron 24 (54.5%) con
nódulos tiroideos, mientras que el Grupo B, sólo 13 (17.1%); p = 0.0087. Cuando consideramos la presencia de
una glándula tiroides de tamaño elevado pero dentro de los límites normales, medida por ecografía (peso mayor
a 16 gramos sin nódulos), encontramos que 8/44 casos del Grupo A (18.6%) y 3/76 del Grupo B (3.9%)
entraron en esta categoría, p = 0.0076. En aquellas pacientes con nódulos tiroideos o glándula tiroides de mayor
tamaño, observamos IR en 36/44 (81.8%) del Grupo A y en 14/76 (18.4%) del Grupo B, p = 0.0069, mientras
que la prevalencia total de IR fue del 0.47 en el Grupo A y del 0.05 en el Grupo B, p = 0.00094. En conclusión,
las pacientes con acrocordones tuvieron mayor prevalencia de nódulos tiroideos detectados por ecografía,
glándula tiroides de mayor tamaño y mayor proporción de insulino resistencia.
Palabras clave: Nódulos tiroideos; Insulino resistencia; Acrocordones
Skin tags (achrocordons) are skin-colored, pedunculated
tumors with a smooth surface. Histologically they are composed
by loose collagen fibers and dilated capillaries1. The
association of acanthosis nigricans, skin tags, diabetes
mellitus, insulin resistance (IR), and obesity in adolescents
and young adults represents a well defined association2.
The endocrine origin of this condition is beyond doubt. Insulin
and insulin-like growth factor-1, and their receptors on
keratinocytes are obviously involved in the complex regulations
leading to the peculiar epidermal hyperplasia. Control
of obesity contributes largely to reverse the whole process,
essentially by reducing both insulin resistance and compensatory
hyperinsulinemia, although skin tags usually remains
without change after IR normalization2.
Due to the observation of a great number of patients
having skin tags, when they underwent fine needle biopsies
for thyroid nodules in our Clinic, we decided to perform
a prospective study to investigate the relationship
between this finding and the presence of IR, since
achrocordons are commonly seen in hyperinsulinemic
subjects2.
Materials and Methods
One hundred and twenty consecutively by assisted women,
mean age 24.2 ± 7 years, range 18-35 years. living in an iodine
sufficient area3, who attended our Clinic for endocrinological
evaluation, were included in the study. To be incorporated
in this protocol, patients had to have: 1) normal
thyroid function, as determined by the measurements of T3,
T4 and TSH, 2) negative titers of antithyroid antibodies (TPOAb),
3) no past history of thyroid abnormalities, and 4) no past
history of any thyroid and/or having received homeopathic
medication.
Subjects were divided into two groups as follows: Group
A, with achrocordons (n=44) and Group B, without achrocordons
(n=76).
All subjects gave written voluntary consent to participate
in the study. Procedures were applied in agreement with the
ethical guidelines of our Institutions.
Body weights (kg) and heights (cm) were measured without
shoes and/or cap. Body mass index (BMI) was expressed as
weight per height square (kg/m2). Obesity was defined as BMI
higher than 30.
All blood samples were taken between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m.
after 12 hours of fasting period. After collection, serum
samples were stored at -20 ºC until assayed.
Basal and 2-hour postprandial glycemia and insulinemia
were monitored. The post prandial samples were obtained 2
h after a standard mixed meal intake, as previously described4.
Breakfast included proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
Insulin was determined as previously described4.
Hyperinsulinemia was considered when basal levels were > 20 uIU/ml or > 60 uIU/ml in the post prandial state.
Glycemia was determined as previously described4.
Homeostasis Model Assessment index (HOMA) was
calculated from insulin and glycemia values as previously
described5. A high HOMA index (> 2.5) generally reflects
insulin resistance.
The thyroid hormones, thyrotrophin (TSH) and antithyroperoxidase
antibodies (TPO-Ab) were measured by electrochemiluminescent
technology (ECL) with an automatic
analyzer (Roche Diagnostics Elecsys 2010 Immunoassay
System, Mannheim, Germany).
Thyroid ultrasound scanning (US) was performed in all
patients by using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer. Thyroid volume
(TV) was calculated by the elliptical shape volume formula
(0.479 x length x width x height) for each lobe as previously
described4. We considered as thyroid nodules, all the US
nodular lesions greater than 3 mm.
Results are expressed as means ± SD. Between-group
comparisons were made using Student's t-test for independent
samples of cases of normal distribution. The Wilkoxon ranksum
test was used for independent samples of cases of
abnormal distribution. The Chi-square test was used for nominal
variables. The level of significance was set at 0.05.
Results
In Group A, 24 (54.5%) patients presented thyroid nodules, whereas Group B only 13 (17.1%) subjects, p = 0.0087 (Table 1).
TABLE 1.- Frequency of thyroid alterations and prevalence of insulin resistance in
subjects with or without achrocordons
Group A: Subjects with achrocordons; Group B: Subjects without achrocordons; IR: insulin resistance
When we considered, as having high normal thyroid volume, the glands weighting more than 16 grams by ultrasonography (US), excluding those which had thyroid nodules, it was found that 8 /44 (18.6%) cases from Group A and 3/76 (3.9%) from Group B fitted in such category, with an statistically significant difference, p = 0.0076 (Table 1). Taking together those patients with thyroid nodules and/or bigger thyroid glands, IR was observed in 36/44 (82%) subjects of Group A and in 14/76 (18%) subjects of Group B, p = 0.0069 while the overall prevalence of IR was 0.47 in Group A and 0.05 in Group B, p = 0.00094 (Table 1).
Discussion
Skin tags are known to be more common after the age of
40 years6. In this series, the frequency of achrocordons
was 37%, higher than the prevalence of skin tags in the
general population which is estimated around 20 to 25%6.
There have been a few reports in the literature showing
that the presence of skin tags is associated with diabetes
mellitus7,8. It has also been reported that these lesions
might be associated with insulin resistance9-13, with an atherogenic lipid profile14 and a lot of discussion has
been made about if achrocordons constitute a marker for
colon polyps15.
On the other side, we have recently shown that those
subjects with IR have a higher prevalence of greater thyroid
volumes and thyroid nodules4. We believe that the
higher circulating levels of insulin might be causing increased
thyroid proliferation. The clinical manifestations
would be the larger thyroid volume and the formation of
nodules4.
Insulin resistance is a characteristic feature of most
patients with simple obesity, polycystic ovarian syndrome,
and impaired glucose tolerance, as well as other disorders16,
17. In a recent publication, it has been reported that
increased BMI is associated with increased risk of common
and less common malignancies18. These epidemiological
observations should inform the exploration of biological
mechanisms that link obesity with cancer, and probably
insulin resistance have much to do with this, considering
that it is a growth factor which can act systemically.
In our study, we have observed that patients with
achrocordons have a higher prevalence of US-detected
thyroid nodules and larger thyroid glands. According to
these results, we recommend that in those patients with
achrocordons, it may be beneficial to search for thyroid
abnormalities. On the other side, insulin resistance will
usually be present in patients with skin tags19, as it was
observed in our series. Therefore, we suggest that IR
would be directly involved in thyroid proliferation and the
development of achrocordons, as well. For this reason,
in all subjects with achrocordons the possibility of the presence
of IR and thyroid nodules is encouraged to be investigated.
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Received: 12-6-2008
Accepted: 27-1-2009