open access

Vol 58, No 2 (2007)
Original paper
Submitted: 2013-02-15
Published online: 2007-03-13
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On-levothyroxine measurement of thyroglobulin is not a reliable test for the follow-up of patients at high risk for remnant/recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Ali Gholamrezanezhad, Mohsen Saghari, Sahar Mirpour, Davood Beiki, Ali Tarbiat, Shabnam Javan, Javaher Abdollahzadeh
Endokrynol Pol 2007;58(2):100-104.

open access

Vol 58, No 2 (2007)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2013-02-15
Published online: 2007-03-13

Abstract

Introduction: At present the most widely accepted tool for follow-up management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients is serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement. It is not uncommon for the serum Tg level to be measured while the patient is taking thyroid hormones (on-treatment Tg measurement). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of on-treatment measurement of serum Tg in detecting remnant/recurrent or metastatic disease in high-risk DTC patients.
Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 26 high-risk DTC patients and compared the on-treatment and off-treatment Tg levels of these patients. All patients were anti-Tg negative. Using off-treatment measurement of Tg as the gold standard, the results of on-treatment measurement of Tg in the diagnosis of remnant/recurrent disease were analysed for sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV).
Results: The median serum Tg level under thyroid hormone suppressive therapy (on-treatment Tg) was 16.5 ng/ml and after withdrawal of thyroid hormone suppressive therapy (off-treatment Tg) was 95.0 ng/ml (P value = 0.001). In 6 patients (23%) the on-treatment Tg level missed the recurrence of the disease. Regarding the off-treatment Tg as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the on-treatment Tg measurement were 72.7%, 100%, 100%, and 40% respectively.
Conclusion: Normal serum Tg level without TSH-stimulation (on-treatment) is not diagnostically reliable in the follow-up of DTC patients with a high probability of residual/recurrent or metastatic disease.

Abstract

Introduction: At present the most widely accepted tool for follow-up management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients is serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement. It is not uncommon for the serum Tg level to be measured while the patient is taking thyroid hormones (on-treatment Tg measurement). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of on-treatment measurement of serum Tg in detecting remnant/recurrent or metastatic disease in high-risk DTC patients.
Material and methods: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of 26 high-risk DTC patients and compared the on-treatment and off-treatment Tg levels of these patients. All patients were anti-Tg negative. Using off-treatment measurement of Tg as the gold standard, the results of on-treatment measurement of Tg in the diagnosis of remnant/recurrent disease were analysed for sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV).
Results: The median serum Tg level under thyroid hormone suppressive therapy (on-treatment Tg) was 16.5 ng/ml and after withdrawal of thyroid hormone suppressive therapy (off-treatment Tg) was 95.0 ng/ml (P value = 0.001). In 6 patients (23%) the on-treatment Tg level missed the recurrence of the disease. Regarding the off-treatment Tg as the gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the on-treatment Tg measurement were 72.7%, 100%, 100%, and 40% respectively.
Conclusion: Normal serum Tg level without TSH-stimulation (on-treatment) is not diagnostically reliable in the follow-up of DTC patients with a high probability of residual/recurrent or metastatic disease.
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Keywords

thyroid cancer; serum thyroglobulin; levothyroxine; recurrence

About this article
Title

On-levothyroxine measurement of thyroglobulin is not a reliable test for the follow-up of patients at high risk for remnant/recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 58, No 2 (2007)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

100-104

Published online

2007-03-13

Page views

631

Article views/downloads

1184

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2007;58(2):100-104.

Keywords

thyroid cancer
serum thyroglobulin
levothyroxine
recurrence

Authors

Ali Gholamrezanezhad
Mohsen Saghari
Sahar Mirpour
Davood Beiki
Ali Tarbiat
Shabnam Javan
Javaher Abdollahzadeh

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