Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2015) 37 EP885 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.37.EP885

ECE2015 Eposter Presentations Thyroid cancer (90 abstracts)

The utility of basal serum thyroglobulin measurement, using a highly sensitive immunoassay, in the follow up of patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer

Nigel Glynn 1 , Anne Marie Hannon 1 , Lauren Schneekloth 1 , Ciara De Buitleir 1 , Martina Morrin 2 , Frank Keeling 2 , Clare Faul 3 , Mary Leader 4 , Arnold D K Hill 5 , William Tormey 6 , Diarmuid Smith 1 , Chris J Thompson 1 & Amar Agha 1


1Department of Endocrinology, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI Medical School, Dublin, Ireland; 2Department of Radiology, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI Medical School, Dublin, Ireland; 3Department of Radiation Oncology, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI Medical School, Dublin, Ireland; 4Department of Histopathology, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI Medical School, Dublin, Ireland; 5Department of Surgery, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI Medical School, Dublin, Ireland; 6Department of Chemical Pathology, Beaumont Hospital and RCSI Medical School, Dublin, Ireland.


Introduction: TSH-stimulated serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is used as a sensitive marker for the detection of early recurrence or residual disease following treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). However, stimulated Tg, using TSH or thyroid hormone withdrawal, is either costly or cumbersome for patients.

Aim: To compare the performance of basal T4 suppressed, with stimulated Tg measurement, in the follow up of patients treated for DTC.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients treated for DTC at our institution between September 2011 and September 2014. Data recorded included patient demographics, surgical pathology, and imaging results as well as biochemical parameters. Tg was measured by a highly sensitive immunoassay with a functional sensitivity of 0.1 ng/ml. A stimulated Tg >2 ng/ml was considered significant. Patients with an elevated anti-Tg antibody titre were excluded.

Results: 46 stimulated Tg measurements were performed in 41 patients – TNM stages 1 and 2=33 patients; stages 3 and 4=8 patients. Of the 31 tests in which the basal Tg was <0.1 ng/ml, only one (3%) had a stimulated Tg >2 ng/ml; none had radiological evidence of recurrent or residual disease. If the basal Tg was 0.1–0.5 ng/ml, stimulated Tg was >2 ng/ml in 33% of cases.

Conclusion: Undetectable basal Tg measurement, using a highly sensitive Tg assay, together with negative neck imaging, are highly reassuring for remission following treatment for DTC.

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