Post-ablative serum thyroglobulin is an independent predictor of recurrence in low-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a 16-year follow-up study.
OBJECTIVE
To study whether post-surgical and/or post-ablative thyroglobulin (Tg) concentrations may serve as independent predictors of disease recurrence in patients treated for TNM stage I or II well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC).


METHODS
An observational retrospective study with a median follow-up of 16 years (range 10-24).


METHODS
Post-operative and post-ablative Tg concentrations, age, tumour size, local infiltration and nodal metastasis at primary surgery as well as disease recurrences and cancer-specific deaths were evaluated in 495 low-risk (TNM stages I and II) patients, the majority of whom had total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine remnant ablation as initial treatment.


RESULTS
Fifty-one patients (10.3%) experienced disease recurrence during follow-up. In multiple logistic regression analysis, post-ablative Tg concentrations (odds ratio (OR) 3.72, confidence interval (CI) 1.71-8.05, P=0.0009) and local infiltration on primary surgery (OR 2.66, CI 1.03-6.90, P=0.04) were the only independent predictors of recurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Post-ablative Tg concentration is a strong predictor of disease recurrence in WDTC.
Pelttari
Hanna
H
Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, PO Box 340, FI-00290 Helsinki, Finland. hanna.pelttari@kolumbus.fi
Välimäki
Matti J
MJ
Löyttyniemi
Eliisa
E
Schalin-Jäntti
Camilla
C
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000639:trends; D055815:Young Adult
D013954:Thyroglobulin