title: Thyroglobulin antibodies could be a potential predictive marker for papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is associated with an increased risk of developing papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and cancer remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the preoperative TgAb could be a potential predictor of PTC in patients with thyroid nodules and to assess whether there is an association of preoperative TgAb with lymph node metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective, nonrandomised study included 854 patients who underwent standard total thyroidectomy. Benign thyroid nodules were diagnosed in 447 patients, and 407 presented with malignant nodules. The examined parameters included the clinical characteristics, preoperative TSH and TgAb levels, and the histopathological characteristics of the tumour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tumour size >10 mm (p = 0.01), the presence of PTC (p < 0.001), elevated TSH levels (2.64 ± 1.28 μU/ml vs. 2.09 ± 0.98 μU/ml, p = 0.001), HT (p < 0.001), and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with positive TgAb. Additionally, tumour size >10 mm (p < 0.001), preoperative TgAb positivity (p = 0.003), and elevated TSH levels (TSH > 3.4 μU/ml, p = 0.038) were independent risk factors for PTC based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that TgAb positivity was an independent risk factor for PTC. A positive correlation between TgAb and PTC in patients with indeterminate nodules was existed. Additionally, a positive correlation existed between TgAb and lymph node metastases in patients with PTC. Prospective studies with a larger number of patients and long-term follow-up are needed clarify the potential role of positive serum TgAb in the prediction of PTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Venizeleio - Pananeio General Hospital, Herakleion, Alexandroupolis, Greece, j.vasileiadis@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vasileiadis
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boutzios
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Charitoudis
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koukoulioti
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karatzas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C006606:anti-thyroglobulin; D013972:Thyrotropin