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Serum Thyroglobulin, A Monitor of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients Receiving Thyroid Hormone Suppression Therapy: Concise Communication

Veterans Administration Medical Center, Wadsworth Division, and University of California at Los Angeles, (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

Correspondence: For reprints contact: W. H. Blahd, MD (W115), Chief, Nuclear Medicine Ultrasound Svc., VA Medical center, Wadsworth Division Los Angeles, CA 90073.

ABSTRACT

Serum thyroglobulin levels were obtained in 86 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy and I-131 ablation for differentiated thyroid cancer, and who were receiving or had recently discontinued thyroid hormone suppression therapy. Excellent correlation was observed between serum thyroglobulin levels in patients receiving thyroid hormone suppression therapy and I-131 imaging studies. Serum thyroglobulin levels equal to or below 20 ng/ml indicate the absence of thyroid carcinoma, and values exceeding 60 ng/ml were indicative of active thyroid cancer but may include some patients without clinical evidence of disease. Intermediate serum thyroglobulin levels were observed in a small number of patients with post-surgical thyroid remnants or active disease. Serum thyroglobulin levels are of conceiving thyroid hormone suppression therapy.