title: The clinical utility of Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive thyroglobulin ratio in serum for distinguishing benign from malignant conditions of the thyroid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditionally, the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma consists of periodic withdrawal from L-T4-suppressive therapy to allow performance of a highly sensitive serum Tg measurement to detect recurrences. We investigated Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive thyroglobulin ratios in serum to evaluate in usefulness for detection of thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 93 serum sample from 23 healthy volunteers, 32 patients with benign thyroid tumor, 28 patients with thyroid carcinoma without metastasis, and 10 patients with thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Lens culinaris Agglutinin reactive thyroglobulin ratio in patients with thyroid carcinoma was significantly lower than in patients with benign thyroid tumor with serum thyroglobulin concentration >200 ng/ml. Among cases of thyroid carcinoma with lymph node metastasis, Lens culinaris Agglutinin reactive thyroglobulin ratios were significantly lower than in patient with thyroid carcinoma without metastasis and those with benign tumor regardless of serum thyroglobulin concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Measurement of Lens culinaris Agglutinin reactive thyroglobulin ratio in serum may be useful for distinguishing between thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid tumor.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostics Research Laboratories, Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Ltd., Japan. shimizu.kayoko@wako-chem.co.jp
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Shinzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kobatake
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satomura
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kameko
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tajiri
authors.forename: Ryoji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D001667:Binding, Competitive; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D008297:Male; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D037121:Plant Lectins; C033619:lentil lectin; D013954:Thyroglobulin