Abstract |
To evaluate the significance of assay of serum
thyroglobulin(Tg) in monitoring the course of the
thyroid cancer or its response to treatment, serum
thyroglobulin levels were measured in 41 patients with
thyroid cancer who visited Seoul National University
Hospital from August, 1981 to August, 1982. The results
were as follows: 1) Serum Tg levels 1∼3 months after
thyroidectomy was 31±23 ng/ml(mean±S.D.) in 14
patients without metastasis, 66±41 ng/ml in 21
patients with regional metastasis and 176±59 ng/ml in
6 patients with distant metastasis and there were
significant differences among three groups(p〈0.01). 2)
Serum Tg levels in 13 patients with metastasis before
and after 131I treatment were 134±62 ng/ml and 67±52
ng/ml respectively. 3) In the follow-up measurement of
serum Tg levels every 3 months for about 1 year, almost
all serum Tg levels were below 60 ng/ml in 12 patients
without distant metastasis and serum Tg levels were
elevated above 60 ng/ml in 5 of 6 patients with distant
metastasis. 4) In 6 patients with distant metastasis,
serum Tg levels were elevated in 5 patients and 131I
Whole body scan showed definite metastatic evidence in
3 patients and suspicious evidenc in 1 patient. From
above results, we concluded that serum Tg level is very
useful as an indicator of recurrence or metastasis in
patients with thyroid cancer after operation. |