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Vascular endothelial growth factor in thyroid cyst fluids

Der endotheliale Gefäßwachstumsfaktor in der Zystenflüssigkeit von Schilddrüsenknoten

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Zusammenfassung

HINTERGRUND: Die Pathogenese von zystischen Schilddrüsenknoten ist nicht vollkommen geklärt. Ausgehend von der Annahme, dass der endotheliale Gefäßwachstumsfaktor (VEGF) eine wichtige Rolle in der Entstehung von Zystenflüssigkeit in Schilddrüsenzysten spielt, haben wir die VEGF-Konzentration in dieser Flüssigkeit untersucht. DESIGN: Zystenflüssigkeit aus zystischen Schilddrüsenknoten unterschiedlichen Ursprungs wurde in 24 Patienten (Alter: 31–84 Jahre) mittels ultraschallgezielter Feinnadelaspiration gewonnen. METHODE: Schilddrüsenvolumen und Zystenvolumen wurden mittels hochauflösendem Ultraschall gemessen. VEGF-Konzentrationen in der Zystenflüssigkeit wurden mit Hilfe eines Festphasen Enzym Verbindungs-Immunosorbent-Tests (ELISA) ermittelt. ERGEBNISSE: Unterschiedlich hohe VEGF-Konzentrationen konnten in den Zystenflüssigkeiten der verschiedenen zystischen Schilddrüsenknoten aufgezeigt werden. Die VEGF-Konzentration in der Zystenflüssigkeit von Patienten mit adenomatösen Schilddrüsenknoten war signifikant höher (p < 0,05) als die Konzentration von VEGF in der Zystenflüssigkeit von Schilddrüsenknoten mit zystischer Degeneration. Die höchsten VEGF-Konzentrationen wurden in blutigen Zystenflüssigkeiten ermittelt. Diese Konzentrationen waren signifikant höher als die VEGF-Konzentrationen in den übrigen Zystenflüssigkeiten (p < 0,05). Interessanterweise fand sich eine signifikante Korrelation (p < 0,01) zwischen den Schilddrüsenvolumen und den VEGF-Konzentrationen in den Zystenflüssigkeiten, während keine signifikante Beziehung (p = 0,20) zwischen den Zystenvolumen und den VEGF-Konzentrationen gefunden werden konnte. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Unsere Ergebnisse lassen vermuten, dass der endotheliale Gefäßwachstumsfaktor (VEGF) eine wichtige Rolle in der Entstehung von Zystenflüssigkeit in Schilddrüsenzysten spielt.

Summary

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of cystic thyroid nodules is incompletely understood. Based on the assumption that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of thyroid cyst fluid, we investigated the VEGF concentration in cyst fluids of thyroid lesions. DESIGN: Cyst fluids from 24 patients (age 31–84 years) were obtained using ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration. The patients' cystic thyroid nodules were of different origins. METHODS: Thyroid and cyst volumes were determined using high-resolution ultrasonography. VEGF concentrations were determined using a solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Differing elevated VEGF concentrations were demonstrated in cyst fluids of thyroid nodules of varied origins. The VEGF concentration in cyst fluid of patients with adenomatous goiter was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that in thyroid nodules with cystic degeneration. The highest level of VEGF was found in bloody cyst fluid when compared with levels in other cyst fluids (P < 0.05). Interestingly, there was significant correlation (P < 0.01) between thyroid volume and VEGF concentration in cyst fluid, but no significant correlation (P = 0.20) between cyst volume and VEGF concentration. CONCLUSION: Significantly increased VEGF concentrations were found in bloody cyst fluid and in cyst fluid of thyroid adenomatous goiter, compared with VEGF concentrations in degenerative thyroid cysts. Our results suggest that VEGF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of thyroid cyst fluid.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Andrea Hofmann, Friedrich Girschele, Clemens Novotny, Oskar Kienast, Anton Staudenherz, Robert Dudczak & Shuren Li

  2. Department of Internal Medicine III, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Alois Gessl

Authors
  1. Andrea Hofmann
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  2. Alois Gessl
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  3. Friedrich Girschele
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  4. Clemens Novotny
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  5. Oskar Kienast
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  6. Anton Staudenherz
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  7. Robert Dudczak
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  8. Shuren Li
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Correspondence to Shuren Li.

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Hofmann, A., Gessl, A., Girschele, F. et al. Vascular endothelial growth factor in thyroid cyst fluids. Wien Klin Wochenschr 119, 248–253 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-006-0744-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-006-0744-5

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