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Value of thyroglobulin post hemithyroidectomy for cancer: a literature review
Author(s) -
Tourani Saam S.,
Fleming Bill,
Gundara Justin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
anz journal of surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.426
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-2197
pISSN - 1445-1433
DOI - 10.1111/ans.16459
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroglobulin , neck dissection , thyroid cancer , thyroidectomy , retrospective cohort study , cancer , thyroid , surgery
Background An increasing number of patients with low and moderate risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) are now managed with lobectomy alone. The value of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in the follow up of these patients remains poorly defined. Methods A review of the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases was performed to assess the utility of Tg in the follow up of patients undergoing thyroid lobectomy for DTC. Results A total of five retrospective reviews were identified including 1136 patients undergoing hemithyroidectomy with or without prophylactic central neck dissection. The overall locoregional recurrence rate was 3.7%. Changes in serum Tg following hemithyroidectomy for cancer were found to be clinically useful in one study only. The proposed cut‐off value of 30 ng/mL following hemithyroidectomy as a predictor of recurrent disease was not validated by any study. Conclusion Serum Tg values are not useful in the follow up of DTC patients managed with lobectomy alone. Good quality neck ultrasound appears to be an effective modality in the detection of locoregional recurrence in these patients while research efforts continue to identify and validate novel biomarkers.