High prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer in Korean women with insulin resistance.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance are/is associated with the prevalence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in Korean women.

Methods: This study included 735 female patients with PTC and 537 female non-PTC control subjects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between hyperinsulinemia/insulin resistance and the occurrence of PTC.

Results: The prevalence of PTC was significantly correlated with increased insulin, glucose levels, and a high homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The multivariate adjusted odds ratios for the prevalence of PTC in the highest quartile groups for insulin, glucose, and HOMA-IR were 2.88, 9.32, and 4.07 (all p < .001), respectively, compared with the lowest quartile groups. Pathological analyses revealed that increased serum glucose, insulin levels, and a higher HOMA-IR were associated with the multifocality of PTC.

Conclusion: Hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance may be associated with the development of PTC, but not disease severity in Korean women.