Relation of preoperative serum thyroglobulin concentration and aggressive behavior of papillary thyroid cancer

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the association between preoperative serum thyroglobulin concentration and aggressive behavior of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) . Methods A total of 334 PTC patients diagnosed by surgical pathology treated in our hospital from Jan. 2013 to Dec. 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to Tg levels and clinicopathological characteristics between the two groups were compared. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the factors influencing extrathyroidal extension and lymph node metastasis of PTC. Results High level of preoperative serum Tg was signifcantly associated with old age, multifocality, larger maximum tumor size, more frequent extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis, and advanced T and TNM stage (P 2 cm (P=0.031) and preoperative serum Tg level >17.21 ng/ml (P=0.028) were independent risk factors for extrathyroidal extension. Maximum tumor diameter >2 cm (P=0.007) and preoperative serum Tg levels >25.40 ng/ml (P=0.016) were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis, whereas female was a significant protective predictive factor (P<0.001) . Conclusion Preoperative serum Tg levels may serve as an independent risk marker for extrathyroidal extension and lymph node metastasis of PTC, and partly contributes to predict aggressive behavior of PTC. Key words: Papillary thyroid cancer; Thyroglobulin; Extrathyroidal extension; Lymph node metastasis