title: The importance of inferior-superior thyroid veins sampling in the diagnosis of thyroid carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to determine whether levels of thyroglobulin measured in blood from the inferior-superior thyroid veins and the peripheral antecubital vein could predict the presence of thyroid carcinoma in patients undergoing surgery for thyroid diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients were prospectively enrolled in the study. Levels of thyroglobulin were analysed. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) of these markers were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-six out of 61 patients (42.6%) with malignancy were diagnosed. The levels of thyroglobulin in the inferior-superior thyroid veins were higher than those in the peripheral antecubital vein (p = 0.001). The levels of thyroglobulin in the blood taken from the antecubital vein and the inferior-superior thyroid veins did not differ between benign and malignant thyroid disorders. For thyroglobulin, sensitivity was 33.3%, specificity 60.6%, PPV 27.8%, and NPV 66.7% respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroglobulin levels in the antecubital vein compared to the inferior-superior thyroid veins were not significant either in benign or malignant disorders.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Turkey.
authors: Suat
authors: S
authors: Kutun
authors: Aybala Agac
authors: AA
authors: Ay
authors: Alper
authors: A
authors: Celik
authors: Uygun
authors: U
authors: Turan
authors: Haluk
authors: H
authors: Ulucanlar
authors: Abdullah
authors: A
authors: Cetin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014680:Veins; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013954:Thyroglobulin