title: Preoperative TSH and thyroglobulin levels: would it predict thyroid cancer?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study is to determine whether preoperative TSH and Tg levels can be used as predictors of thyroid cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts of patients who had undergone thyroid surgery between 2006 and 2012 were subjected to review. Demographic data, preoperative TSH and Tg levels, and final histopathological results were recorded. Patients were divided depending on preoperative TSH and Tg levels. Group 1 consisted of patients with elevated TSH and Tg, Group 2 had elevated TSH only, Group 3 - elevated Tg only, and in Group 4 neither TSH nor Tg were elevated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  653 patient charts were reviewed and 386 patients were excluded due to incomplete information. 212 patients were female. Mean age was 50 years. Group 1 included 52 patients, 25 of them (48%) had well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). Relative risk was 1.59 and the odds ratio amounted to 1.79. Group 2 included 80 patients, 36 (45%) of whom had WDTC. Group 3 consisted of 58 patients, 23 (39.6%) of them with WDTC. Group 4 comprised 77 patients, where WDTC was present in 16 (20.8%) cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TSH and Tg levels can aid in preoperative assessment of a thyroid nodule.
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Bader
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Faisal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zawawi
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Zack
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mlynarek
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hier
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamilia
authors.affiliation: McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013954:Thyroglobulin