Prognostic value of postsurgical stimulated thyroglobulin levels after initial radioactive iodine therapy in well‐differentiated thyroid carcinoma

AbstractBackground.In well‐differentiated thyroid carcinoma, predictors of future positivity of stimulated thyroglobulin (>2 μg/L) after initial radioactive iodine treatment are not known.Methods.In a retrospective study, we used logistic regression analysis to determine whether postoperative stimulated thyroglobulin measurements and pathologic stage independently predict future stimulated thyroglobulin positivity.Results.We followed 141 patients with well‐differentiated thyroid carcinoma for a median of 35 months; follow‐up stimulated thyroglobulin measurements were positive in 20.6% (29/141). The natural logarithm of the postsurgical stimulated thyrogolobulin was independently associated with a positive stimulated thyroglobulin at long‐term follow‐up (odds ratio [OR], 4.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.33–8.45; p < .001); there was a trend for a positive association of TNM stage with positive follow‐up stimulated thyroglobulin (p = .054). Lymph node positivity predicted a positive stimulated thyroglobulin in papillary cancer.Conclusions.Stimulated thyroglobulin measurements prior to initial radioactive iodine treatment independently predict future stimulated thyroglobulin positivity in well‐differentiated thyroid carcinoma. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008

Prognostic value of postsurgical stimulated thyroglobulin levels after initial radioactive iodine therapy in well‐differentiated thyroid carcinoma Journal Articles