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Relapse of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in low-risk patients
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Abstract
Material and methods: The group consisted of 617 DTC patients diagnosed in 1995-1996. In 513 (83%) total thyroidectomy was performed. 449 (73%) received ablative 131I therapy. After primary approach complete remission (CR) was stated in 453 (73%), persistent disease in 116 (19%), asymptomatic hyperthyroglobulinaemia in 14 (2%). Patients with CR constituted the low risk group analyzed in this study. The median follow up was 4.16 yrs.
Results: Recurrent disease appeared in 28 (6%) patients (23 locoregional, 9 distant metastases, both in 4). Serum Tg (thyroglobulin) level at the moment of relapse diagnosis was detectable in 44% while neck sonography was the first examination to detect recurrence in 56% of cases.
Conclusion: In the selected group of DTC patients treated by radical primary approach and showing a low risk of recurrence only half of all relapse cases are diagnosed by the rise of serum Tg level. Regular sonography contributes to the second half of diagnoses. Thus, a special weight should be put on neck sonography as the important element of regular follow up in low risk DTC patients.
Abstract
Material and methods: The group consisted of 617 DTC patients diagnosed in 1995-1996. In 513 (83%) total thyroidectomy was performed. 449 (73%) received ablative 131I therapy. After primary approach complete remission (CR) was stated in 453 (73%), persistent disease in 116 (19%), asymptomatic hyperthyroglobulinaemia in 14 (2%). Patients with CR constituted the low risk group analyzed in this study. The median follow up was 4.16 yrs.
Results: Recurrent disease appeared in 28 (6%) patients (23 locoregional, 9 distant metastases, both in 4). Serum Tg (thyroglobulin) level at the moment of relapse diagnosis was detectable in 44% while neck sonography was the first examination to detect recurrence in 56% of cases.
Conclusion: In the selected group of DTC patients treated by radical primary approach and showing a low risk of recurrence only half of all relapse cases are diagnosed by the rise of serum Tg level. Regular sonography contributes to the second half of diagnoses. Thus, a special weight should be put on neck sonography as the important element of regular follow up in low risk DTC patients.
Keywords
differentiated thyroid cancer; thyroglobulin; neck USG; 131I scintigraphy
About this articleTitle
Relapse of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in low-risk patients
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original paper
Pages
386-391
Published online
2006-07-07
Page views
614
Article views/downloads
1088
DOI
10.5603/ep.25720
Bibliographic record
Endokrynol Pol 2006;57(4):386-391.
Keywords
differentiated thyroid cancer
thyroglobulin
neck USG
131I scintigraphy
Authors
Jolanta Krajewska
Agnieszka Czarniecka
Michał Jarząb
Aleksandra Kukulska
Daria Hankiewicz-Junak
Kornelia Hasse-Lazar
Elżbieta Gubała
Zbigniew Puch
Ewa Paliczka
Józef Roskosz
