Serum thyroglobulin in the management of patients with thyroid cancer
We have reviewed our experience with the management of patients with thyroid cancer to assess the potential benefits of employing the serum thyroglobulin assay in patient management programs and to determine the optimal conditions for this application. Serum thyroglobulin levels were found to be more reliable when obtained from hypothyroid patients. Levels of thyroglobulin greater than 10 ng/mL appeared to be abnormally elevated in both thyroidectomized patients prior to radioactive iodine therapy (group 1) and in thyroidectomized patients after radioactive iodine therapy (group 2). Elevated thyroglobulin levels were found to be useful indicators of the presence of metastatic disease, whereas normal thyroglobulin levels were reliable indicators of the absence of metastases. In group 1 patients, elevated thyroglobulin levels reliably predicted the presence of important total body scan uptake. In group 2 patients, normal thyroglobulin levels reliably predicted the absence of total body scan uptake. The serum thyroglobulin assay can substantially reduce the need for repetitive total body scanning in the follow-up of group 2 patients with thyroid cancer.
- Research Organization:
- Thyroid Study Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, IL
- OSTI ID:
- 7087508
- Journal Information:
- Arch. Intern. Med.; (United States), Vol. 142:4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
IODINE ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
RADIOTHERAPY
PLANNING
THYROGLOBULIN
BIOASSAY
BLOOD SERUM
HYPOTHYROIDISM
METASTASES
NEOPLASMS
PATIENTS
THYROID
BODY
DISEASES
ENDOCRINE DISEASES
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
GLANDS
GLOBULINS
ISOTOPES
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
550604* - Medicine- Unsealed Radionuclides in Therapy- (1980-)
550200 - Biochemistry
551000 - Physiological Systems