title: Serum thyroglobulin levels in hypofunctioning nodules before and after surgery.
abstract: Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) level was determined in 34 biologically euthyroid patients having benign hypofunctioning nodule, before and after surgery. Based on the results of thyroid scanning with radioiodine, 2 groups of patients were considered. Group 1 (n = 18) had solitary hypofunctioning nodule with an otherwise normal thyroid gland and group 2 (n = 16) had hypofunctioning nodule inside an enlarged and/or heterogeneous thyroid. Results were compared to a group of 30 control subjects. Mean Tg level was significantly elevated in both groups 1 and 2 before surgery. No significant difference was found between group 1 and group 2. After surgical removal of the hypofunctioning nodule (follicular adenoma), mean Tg level was normalized in group 1 and decreased but still remained elevated in group 2. It is concluded that the observed elevated serum Tg level is due to the presence of hypofunctioning nodule and/or heterogeneous thyroid tissue. Thus, Tg determination may be useful in the follow-up of operated hypofunctioning nodules in order to detect abnormality in the remaining thyroid tissue.
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013954:Thyroglobulin