Top 5 thyroid stories from ENDO 2015

Endocrine Today has compiled a list of the top five thyroid stories posted online to come from The Endocrine Society’s Annual Meeting in San Diego.

Healio.com/Endocrinology readers were interested in developments in the treatment of thyroid cancer, developments in diagnostics and how higher TSH was associated with longevity, among other stories.

Thyroid cancer risk greater in survivors of breast cancer

SAN DIEGO — Survivors of breast cancer are at an increased risk for developing thyroid cancer compared with the general population, according to research presented at The Endocrine Society annual meeting.

“Age-specific risk for thyroid cancer is higher among patients with a preceding history of breast cancer,” Jennifer Hong Kuo, MD, of Columbia University Medical Center, New York, said in a press conference. “The risk is highest for patients who are less than 50 years of age when they get diagnosed with their breast cancer.” Read more.

VIDEO: Thyroid hormone signaling may lead to new diagnostic tests

SAN DIEGO — Anthony Neil Hollenberg, MD, chief of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School discusses the newest insights into thyroid hormone signaling.

According to Hollenberg, researchers hypothesize that cellular thyroid hormone signaling is different from the level of thyroid hormone in a person’s circulation. Current animal model test results are being used to spur new diagnostic testing in humans. He said the goal is for better diagnostic testing for people with thyroid disease as well as better approaches for treating metabolic disease. Read more.

Scent-trained canine detects thyroid cancer in urine samples, could aid in diagnoses

SAN DIEGO — Canines trained in scent detection could be a reliable addition to practices now used to diagnose thyroid cancer, according to research presented at The Endocrine Society annual meeting.

With an 88% accuracy rate based on the preliminary data, and no clinic or technology required, canines could play an important role in diagnosis, according to researchers. Read more.

Subclinical thyroid disease increased mortality risk in older adults

SAN DIEGO — Risk for mortality in older adults increased with diagnoses of subclinical hypothyroidism or subclinical hyperthyroidism, according to study findings presented here. “The association between subclinical hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism and mortality in the elderly is poorly defined,” the researchers wrote. “In this study this association was evaluated and the thyroid stimulating hormone values associated with excess mortality in the elderly were defined.” Read more.

Higher TSH associated with human longevity

SAN DIEGO — High total thyroid-stimulating hormone and decreased bone turnover, without changes in energy metabolism or circulating thyroid hormone levels are typical characteristics of offspring of families who live to old age, according to study findings presented here. “Only few studies have included subjects with a propensity to reach old age in good health, aiming to disentangle mechanisms contributing to staying healthier for longer,” the researchers wrote. “Greater longevity has been associated with higher TSH levels in humans and lower thyroid hormone levels in animals, but the mechanisms underlying TSH/[thyroid hormone] differences and longevity are unknown.” Read more.