Abstract
BackgroundDifferentiated 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.MethodsThis 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.ResultsForty 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.ConclusionsThis 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.
Highlights
Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is a common malignancy with increasing incidence
Data Data were retrieved from the medical records and included histopathological results, blood analyses (bTg, stimulated Tg (sTg), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free Thyroxine, Tg autoantibodies (TgAbs)), US of the neck, 131I and 123I whole-body scan (WBS) results over a period of 1 year after thyroidectomy
An additional 5 patients were excluded because TgAbs were positive at 6 months after total thyroidectomy, with possible interference of the Tg results
Summary
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). Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is a common malignancy, with increasing incidence every year. It was the fifth most common cancer in women in the USA in 2015, with 62.000 new cases reported [1]. With adjunctive 131I remnant ablation when necessary, is still considered standard of care. Subsequent follow-up can include a 123I whole-body scan (WBS) when considered necessary [3, 5]. The advantage of a 123I WBS over a diagnostic 131I WBS is that 123I has no β emission, and a shorter half-life, while the diagnostic performance remains equal [6]
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