Prognostic value of postsurgical stimulated thyroglobulin levels after initial radioactive iodine therapy in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
In well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, predictors of future positivity of stimulated thyroglobulin (>2 microg/L) after initial radioactive iodine treatment are not known.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, we used logistic regression analysis to determine whether postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin measurements and pathologic stage independently predict future stimulated thyroglobulin positivity.


RESULTS
We followed 141 patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma for a median of 35 months; follow-up stimulated thyroglobulin measurements were positive in 20.6% (29/141). The natural logarithm of the postsurgical stimulated thyrogolobulin was independently associated with a positive stimulated thyroglobulin at long-term follow-up (odds ratio [OR], 4.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.33-8.45; p < .001); there was a trend for a positive association of TNM stage with positive follow-up stimulated thyroglobulin (p = .054). Lymph node positivity predicted a positive stimulated thyroglobulin in papillary cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Stimulated thyroglobulin measurements prior to initial radioactive iodine treatment independently predict future stimulated thyroglobulin positivity in well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D013954:Thyroglobulin