[Evaluation of surgical results and prediction of prognosis by analysis of serum tumor marker levels: proposal of a theory tested on patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma].
A theory to evaluate the benefit of surgery and to predict the prognosis in patients with a malignant tumor by analysis of serum tumor marker levels is proposed, and an analysis of 67 patients with a medullary thyroid carcinoma is reported as an example of its application. This theory incorporates the following concepts: the tumor marker doubling time, the reduction index, the expected prolongation of survival by surgical therapy, and the expected duration of survival after surgery. These parameters allow a quantitative judgement of the surgical therapy and a quantitative prediction of the subsequent prognosis as demonstrated in patients with a medullary thyroid carcinoma.
Miyauchi
A
A
2nd Dept. of Surgery, Kagawa Medical School.
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002116:Calcitonin