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

Anna M. Sawka, Steven Orlov, Jacob Gelberg, Barry Stork, Mark Dowar, Michael Shaytzag, Vafa Tabatabaie, Jeremy L. Freeman, Paul G. Walfish

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. 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 thyro-golobulin was independently associated with a positive stimulated thyroglobulin at long-term follow-up (odds ratio [OR], 4.44; 95% confidence interval [Cl], 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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)693-700
Number of pages8
JournalHead and Neck
Volume30
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Clinical predictors
  • Iodine radioisotopes
  • Prognosis
  • TNM pathologic stage
  • Thyroglobulin
  • Thyroid carcinoma
  • regression analysis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology

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