Increased risk of papillary thyroid cancer in celiac disease

Dig Dis Sci. 2006 Oct;51(10):1875-7. doi: 10.1007/s10620-006-9240-z.

Abstract

Patients with celiac disease have an increased rate of malignancies that are not limited to lymphomas. Thyroid carcinoma has not previously been associated with celiac disease. However, among a cohort of patients with celiac disease, we identified an increased risk of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, standard morbidity ratio of 22.52 (95% confidence interval 14.90-34.04; P < .001), compared to United States national surveillance data. These patients were on a gluten-free diet. Only 1 had Hashimoto's thyroiditis, suggesting that mechanisms apart from autoimmune thyroiditis contribute to the increased risk of carcinoma of the thyroid in celiac disease.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma, Papillary / epidemiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Celiac Disease / complications*
  • Celiac Disease / diet therapy
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Assessment
  • SEER Program
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Time Factors
  • United States / epidemiology