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Giovanella L, D’Aurizio F, Petranović Ovčariček P, Görges R. Diagnostic, Theranostic and Prognostic Value of Thyroglobulin in Thyroid Cancer. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2463. [PMID: 38730992 PMCID: PMC11084486 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13092463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Thyroglobulin (Tg) is an iodinated glycoprotein, which is normally stored in the follicular colloid of the thyroid, being a substrate for thyroid hormone production. Since it is produced by well-differentiated thyroid cells, it is considered a reliable tumor marker for patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) during their follow-up after total thyroidectomy and radioiodine ablation. It is used to monitor residual disease and to detect recurrent disease. After total thyroid ablation, unstimulated highly sensitive Tg measurements are sufficiently accurate to avoid exogenous or endogenous thyrotropin (TSH) stimulation and provide accurate diagnostic and prognostic information in the great majority of DTC patients. Adopting sophisticated statistical analysis, i.e., decision tree models, the use of Tg before radioiodine theranostic administration was demonstrated to be useful in refining conventional, pathology-based risk stratification and providing personalized adjuvant or therapeutic radioiodine administrations. The follow-up of DTC patients aims to promptly identify patients with residual or recurrent disease following primary treatment. Our review paper covers the diagnostic, theranostic and prognostic value of thyroglobulin in DTC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Giovanella
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Gruppo Ospedaliero Moncucco SA, Clinica Moncucco, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital and University of Zurich, 8006 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Federica D’Aurizio
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy;
| | - Petra Petranović Ovčariček
- Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center Sestre Milosrdnice, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Rainer Görges
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany;
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Guastapaglia L, Chiamolera MI, Viana Lima Junior J, Ferrer CMDF, Godoy Viana L, Veiga Chang C, Andrade Siqueira R, Monteiro Barros Maciel R, Henriques Vieira JG, Biscolla RPM. False diagnosis of recurrent thyroid carcinoma: the importance of testing for heterophile antibodies. ARCHIVES OF ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM 2024; 68:e230115. [PMID: 38456952 PMCID: PMC11081039 DOI: 10.20945/2359-4292-2023-0115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Thyroglobulin (Tg) levels are important to predict recurrence in differentiated thyroid cancer patients.However, false-positive results can hence the request of unnecessary tests and treatments. We reported two cases of interference in thyroglobulin measurement and the workup to investigate them. Both patients achieved an excellent response to therapy after total thyroidectomy and one patient had also received radioiodine treatment. During the follow-up, Tg levels increased and there was no evidence of recurrent disease in the imaging studies. The Tg levels by the Access platform were positive but the results by Elecsys platform and LC-MS/MS were undetectable, leading to the hypothesis of heterophile antibodies (HAbs) interference. The possibility of HAbs interference must be considered when the Tg levels do not fit in the clinical picture. The measurement of Tg by another immunoassay or by LC-MS/MS may be useful in these situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Guastapaglia
- Centro de Doenças da Tireoide e Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Divisão de Endocrinologia, Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Maria Izabel Chiamolera
- Centro de Doenças da Tireoide e Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Divisão de Endocrinologia, Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Grupo Fleury, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | | | | | | | - Claudia Veiga Chang
- Divisão de Endocrinologia,Faculdade do Instituto Superior de Medicina (ISMD),São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Raquel Andrade Siqueira
- Divisão de Endocrinologia, Hospital Geral de Goiânia (Hospital Alberto Rassi), Goiânia, GO, Brasil
| | - Rui Monteiro Barros Maciel
- Centro de Doenças da Tireoide e Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Divisão de Endocrinologia, Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Grupo Fleury, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - José Gilberto Henriques Vieira
- Centro de Doenças da Tireoide e Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Divisão de Endocrinologia, Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
- Grupo Fleury, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
| | - Rosa Paula Mello Biscolla
- Centro de Doenças da Tireoide e Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Divisão de Endocrinologia, Departamento de Medicina, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil,
- Grupo Fleury, São Paulo, SP, Brasil
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Giovanella L, D'Aurizio F, Algeciras-Schimnich A, Görges R, Petranovic Ovcaricek P, Tuttle RM, Visser WE, Verburg FA. Thyroglobulin and thyroglobulin antibody: an updated clinical and laboratory expert consensus. Eur J Endocrinol 2023; 189:R11-R27. [PMID: 37625447 DOI: 10.1093/ejendo/lvad109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Thyroglobulin measurement is the cornerstone of modern management of differentiated thyroid cancer, with clinical decisions on treatment and follow-up based on the results of such measurements. However, numerous factors need to be considered regarding measurement with and interpretation of thyroglobulin assay results. DESIGN The present document provides an integrated update to the 2013 and 2014 separate clinical position papers of our group on these issues. METHODS Issues concerning analytical and clinical aspects of highly-sensitive thyroglobulin measurement will be reviewed and discussed based on an extensive analysis of the available literature. RESULTS Thyroglobulin measurement remains a highly complex process with many pitfalls and major sources of interference, especially anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, need to be assessed, considered and, when necessary, dealt with appropriately. CONCLUSIONS Our expert consensus group formulated 53 practical, graded recommendations for guidance on highly-sensitive thyroglobulin and TgAb in laboratory and clinical practice, especially valuable where current guidelines do not offer sufficient guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Giovanella
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Imaging Institute of Southern Switzerland, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Federica D'Aurizio
- Institute of Clinical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | | | - Rainer Görges
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Petra Petranovic Ovcaricek
- Department of Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Center "Sestre Milosrdnice", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - R Michael Tuttle
- Endocrinology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - W Edward Visser
- Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frederik A Verburg
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Barbesino G, Algeciras-Schimnich A, Bornhorst J. Thyroglobulin Assay Interferences: Clinical Usefulness of Mass-Spectrometry Methods. J Endocr Soc 2022; 7:bvac169. [PMCID: PMC9683495 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvac169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Context Thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAbs) affect thyroglobulin immunometric assays (TgIMAs), causing falsely low results. Conversely, heterophilic antibodies (HAs) may cause falsely elevated results. Thyroglobulin (Tg) measurements by mass spectrometry (MS) resist antibody interference. The most effective use of TgIMA/TgMS in the evaluation of Tg remains unclear. Objective The objective of this work was to study the usefulness of TgMS vs TgIMA in the presence of Tg measurement interference by HA and TgAb. Methods In 163 thyroid cancer patients, Tg was postoperatively measured by TgIMA and TgMS. When TgIMA was elevated and TgMS undetectable, HA was assessed by serial dilution and pretreatment with HA blocking reagent. TgIMA and TgMS were compared in TgAb-positive patients with well-characterized clinical status. Results 6 out of 45 cases with TgIMA >1 ng/mL had undetectable TgMS. HA interference was confirmed by serial dilution and HA blocking reagent addition. In TgAb-positive cases, TgIMA and TgMS were highly correlated (R2 = 0.86). In patients with structural disease and TgAb, TgIMA and TgMS were detectable in 6/19 patients, and 9/19 cases, respectively. The TgMS concentration range in the 3 discrepant cases ranged from 0.5 to 2.0 ng/mL. Hence, the presence of TgAb was associated with inappropriately reduced Tg concentrations with both TgIMA and TgMS. Conclusion HA cause falsely elevated TgIMA with undetectable TgMS with significant frequency. TgMS can be used to rule out HA interference. Albeit resistant to TgAb in vitro, TgMS detects little Tg in patients with TgAb and structural disease. Hence, TgAb may reduce Tg concentrations in vivo. The implication is that no assay design may be able to overcome this problem. TgMS may not detect structural disease in TgAb-positive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Barbesino
- Correspondence: Giuseppe Barbesino, MD, Thyroid Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School, WACC 730S, 55 Fruit St., Boston MA 02114, USA.
| | | | - Joshua Bornhorst
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55092, USA
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Broecker-Preuss M, Mehnert I, Gilman E, Herrmann K, Weber M, Görges R. Evaluation of a new automated assay for high-sensitivity thyroglobulin measurement and comparison with two established high-sensitivity thyroglobulin assays. Pract Lab Med 2021; 26:e00250. [PMID: 34386567 PMCID: PMC8342782 DOI: 10.1016/j.plabm.2021.e00250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Thyroglobulin (Tg) is an important tumor marker for therapy control and follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Over the past decade, assays for highly sensitive Tg measurement have become increasingly established. We evaluated a newly developed high-sensitive Tg assay running on an automated platform (LIAISON® Tg II Gen assay, DiaSorin), with a limit of quantification of 0.10 ng/ml. Design and Methods Tg values of 166 sera from subjects without thyroid diseases and of more than 500 sera of well-defined DTC patients were determined with the new LIAISON® Tg II Gen assay and compared with two established assays (Elecsys® Tg II/Roche, and Medizym® Tg REM/Medipan). Results Tg reference values from healthy subjects were up to 37.93 ng/ml (women) resp. 24.59 ng/ml (men) with the LIAISON® Tg II Gen assay. Tg values showed good correlations in healthy subjects and patients with active tumorous disease. In contrast, Tg values in the very low range from cured thyroidectomized patients were poorly comparable between the three assays, while clinical differences between the cohorts were correctly reflected by all assays. Conclusions With the new LIAISON® Tg II Gen assay, another automated assay standardized against the first International Reference Preparation CRM-457 for highly sensitive measurement of Tg values is available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Broecker-Preuss
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Essen, Germany
| | - Irina Mehnert
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Essen, Germany
| | - Elena Gilman
- Gilman Biometrics, Consultant for Data Processing and Statistics, Köln, Germany
| | - Ken Herrmann
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Essen, Germany
| | - Manuel Weber
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Essen, Germany
| | - Rainer Görges
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Essen, Germany
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