title: Can iodine-131 whole-body scan be replaced by thyroglobulin measurement in the post-surgical follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma?
abstract: This study compared serum thyroglobulin measurement and whole-body scans in the post-surgical follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Thyroglobulin levels were measured in 61 patients receiving L-thyroxine therapy after thyroidectomy, and again after suspension of therapy, before performing a whole-body scan with iodine-131. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of thyroglobulin levels, measured during L-thyroxine therapy, for diagnosis of tumor residue or metastases were then calculated and compared with results obtained by diagnostic whole-body scanning. Our data show that neither thyroglobulin levels nor whole-body scans alone can discriminate between patients with or without metastases. Sensitivity reached 95.7%, specificity 100%, and accuracy 96.7% if results of both procedures were also taken into consideration. We conclude that in the management and follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma both parameters need to be evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Service of Nuclear Medicine, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ronga
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorentino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paserio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Signore
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Todino
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tummarello
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filesi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Baschieri
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013954:Thyroglobulin