Estrogen and progesterone receptor content in human thyroid disease.

Recent studies have confirmed the presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in many benign and malignant thyroid tumors, but their clinical significance is unclear. The estrogen and progesterone receptor content of 135 thyroid lesions was assayed prospectively from 1980 through 1986 using the dextran-coated charcoal method. The cases included 30 papillary, 13 follicular, 6 medullary, and 2 Hürthle cell carcinomas. Thirty-two follicular adenomas, 45 goiters, and 7 cases of thyroiditis also were studied. Estrogen receptor protein was positive (> or = 2 fmol/mg) in 46% of the cases, with no clear statistical predilection related to the type or size of the thyroid lesion, age, or sex. Progesterone receptor protein was positive (> or = 10 fmol/mg) in 51% of the cases, with the highest median values obtained in papillary carcinomas, particularly in male patients and women older than 50 years. Metastases at presentation, noted in 28 of 51 carcinomas, were unrelated to receptor content. Mean follow-up of 55 months in 48 patients with various carcinomas yielded 12 cases with late metastases, which were similarly unrelated to receptor content. Although estrogen receptors are commonly detectable in thyroid lesions, they have no clear relationship to presenting clinical or pathologic features or, in cases of carcinoma, to subsequent metastatic potential. The role of progesterone activity in papillary carcinoma and in goiter merits more investigation.