Thyroglobulin measurements in washout of fine needle aspirates in cervical lymph nodes for detection of papillary thyroid cancer metastases.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the measurement of thyroglobulin in washout needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB-Tg) to detect papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) metastases.


METHODS
Forty-three patients (51.4 ± 14.6 years) with PTC diagnosis and evidence of enlarged cervical lymph nodes (LN) were included. An ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of suspicious LN was performed, for both cytological examination and measurement of FNAB-Tg.


RESULTS
The median values of FNAB-Tg in patients with metastatic LN (n = 5) was 3,419 ng/mL (11.1-25,538), while patients without LN metastasis (n = 38) showed levels of 3.7 ng/mL (0.8-7.4). Considering a 10 ng/mL cutoff value for FNAB-Tg, the sensitivity and specificity was 100%. There were no differences on the median of FNAB-Tg measurements between those on (TSH 0.07 mUI/mL) or off levothyroxine (TSH 97.4 mUI/mL) therapy (3.3 vs. 3.8 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.2).


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that evaluation of FNAB-Tg in cervical LN is a valuable diagnostic tool for PTC metastases that can be used independent of the thyroid status.
Zanella
André B
AB
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, RS, Brazil.
Meyer
Erika L Souza
EL
Balzan
Letícia
L
Silva
Antônio C
AC
Camargo
Joíza
J
Migliavacca
Alceu
A
Guimarães
José Ricardo
JR
Maia
Ana Luiza
AL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002277:Carcinoma; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000032:analysis*; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000502:physiology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin