Sol B, Bravenboer B, Velkeniers B, Raeymaeckers S, Keyaerts M, Andreescu CE. Undetectable thyroglobulin makes
123I whole-body scan and stimulated thyroglobulin obsolete in follow-up care of
differentiated thyroid cancer: a retrospective study.
Thyroid Res 2021;
14:23. [PMID:
34666793 PMCID:
PMC8524885 DOI:
10.1186/s13044-021-00114-0]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is a common malignancy with increasing incidence. Follow-up care for DTC includes thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement and ultrasound (US) of the neck, combined with 131I remnant ablation when indicated. Diagnostic precision has evolved with the introduction of the new high-sensitive Tg-assays (sensitivity ≤0.1 ng/mL). The aim of the study was to determine the prognostic utility of high-sensitive Tg and the need for other diagnostic tests in DTC.
Methods
This was a retrospective, observational study. Patients with pathologically confirmed DTC, treated with total thyroidectomy and 131I remnant ablation, who had their complete follow-up care in our institution were selected (October 2013–December 2018). Subjects with possible thyroglobulin autoantibody interference were excluded. Statistical analysis was performed using the IBM SPSS® Statistics 24 software package.
Results
Forty patients were eligible for analysis. A total of 24 out of the 40 patients (60%) had an undetectable high-sensitive Tg 6 months after total thyroidectomy. None of these patients had a stimulated Tg above 1 ng/mL, or remnant on the 123I Whole-Body Scan (WBS) after 1 year of follow-up. Ultrasound of the neck, performed between 6 and 12 months postoperative, was negative in 21 out of the 24 patients.
Conclusions
This study shows that an undetectable high-sensitive Tg can change the management of patients with DTC and decrease the use and need of stimulated Tg and 123I WBS.
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