title: Thyroglobulin measurement vs iodine 131 total-body scan for follow-up of well-differentiated thyroid cancer.
abstract: Measurement of the serum thyroglobulin level may be more sensitive than total-body scan using sodium iodide 131 for detecting recurrences from well-differentiated thyroid cancer. We have evaluated the merit of these two methods through a retrospective chart review of patients followed up at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pa. We found that in 17 (45%) of 38 follow-up visits, the presence of interfering antibodies prevented the measurement of serum thyroglobulin levels. Furthermore, such determination was less sensitive than iodine 131 total-body scan in detecting residual thyroid tissue and/or cancer in the neck area. We concluded that iodine 131 total-body scan is the preferable method of follow-up, particularly when the goal of therapy is complete ablation of thyroid tissue.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manni
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013954:Thyroglobulin