Hypothyroidism Linked to Liver Cancer in Women

[Htet Aung (DSMA)]

Hypothyroidism is associated with a three-fold higher risk of
developing liver cancer in women, even among those without major risk
factors, according to a study in the May issue of Hepatology.

Manal M. Hassan, M.D., from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson
Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues examined the association
between hypothyroidism and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
in 420 patients with cancer and 1,104 healthy controls.

After controlling for established risk factors, the researchers found
that women who had hypothyroidism for more than 10 years had a
significantly higher risk of developing HCC (odds ratio, 2.9). No
increase in risk was observed for men. Even low-risk patients
(hepatitis virus-negative, nondrinkers, nondiabetics, nonsmokers, and
nonobese) had a two- to three-fold higher risk of HCC with long-term
hypothyroidism. When combined with hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus
(odds ratio, 9.4) or chronic hepatitis virus infection (odds ratio,
31.2) among women increased the risk of HCC more than the addition of
the two risks.

"In summary, our results suggested that long-term hypothyroidism is
associated with HCC, independent from other major HCC risk factors,
and this association was significant only among women," Hassan and
colleagues conclude. "Although hypothyroidism-associated weight gain
(overweight or obesity) may partially explain the association between
hypothyroidism and HCC, hypothyroidism independent from obesity can
also contribute to HCC development."

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