Long-term surveillance of papillary thyroid cancer patients who do not undergo postoperative radioiodine remnant ablation: Is there a role for serum thyroglobulin measurement?

Cosimo Durante, Teresa Montesano, Marco Attard, Massimo Torlontano, Fabio Monzani, Giuseppe Costante, Domenico Meringolo, Marco Ferdeghini, Salvatore Tumino, Livia Lamartina, Alessandra Paciaroni, Michela Massa, Laura Giacomelli, Giuseppe Ronga, Sebastiano Filetti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Context: Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) assays are considered fundamental in postoperative surveillance of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. However, the postsurgical profile of Tg levels has never been specifically investigated in patients who do not undergo radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA). Objectives: Our objective was to explore the evolution of Tg levels over time in DTC patients treated with total or near-total thyroidectomy without RRA. Design: We retrospectively analyzed 290 consecutively diagnosed cases of low-risk (American Thyroid Association criteria) DTC treated with thyroidectomy alone and followed yearly with neck ultrasonography and serum Tg assays. We compared final Tg values in this group and a matched group of 495 RRA-positive patients. Temporal trends of serial Tg levels were also analyzed in 78 of the RRA-negative patients monitored with a high-sensitivity immunoradiometric assay. Results: After follow-up of 2.5-22 yr (median 5 yr), final Tg levels were undetectable (

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2748-2753
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume97
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Endocrinology
  • Biochemistry, medical
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

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