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Diagnosis of Recurrent Thyroid Cancer in Patients with Anti-thyroglobulin Antibodies

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Thyroid Cancer

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Abstract

Whole-body radioiodine scanning, measurement of serum thyroglobulin, and a number of different radiographic methods are used to monitor patients with thyroid cancer for recurrence of their tumors. Over the past decade, substantial improvements in thyroglobulin immunoassays and a greater recognition of the limitations of I-131 scanning, particularly regarding its relatively low sensitivity for neck recurrences, have led to recommendations that rely primarily on accurate thyroglobulin measurements and neck ultrasound. However, there are some limitations of current thyroglobulin immunoassays, including inadequate sensitivity during L-T4 therapy depending on the particular assay and the presence of interfering anti-thyroglobulin antibodies in approximately 20 % of patients. Because circulating anti-thyroglobulin antibodies interfere with accurate thyroglobulin measurement, there is increased reliance on radiographic testing to monitor patients with detectable anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. In this chapter, potential alternative approaches to blood-based monitoring methods in patients with circulating anti-thyroglobulin antibodies will be discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, 565 McCampbell Hall, 1581 Dodd Drive, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Matthew D. Ringel MD

  2. Department of Endocrinology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA

    Jennifer A. Sipos

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  1. Matthew D. Ringel MD
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  2. Jennifer A. Sipos
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Correspondence to Matthew D. Ringel MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, MedStar Washington Hospital Center Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Leonard Wartofsky

  2. Nuclear Medicine Research MedStar Research Institute and Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University School of Medicine Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA

    Douglas Van Nostrand

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Ringel, M.D., Sipos, J.A. (2016). Diagnosis of Recurrent Thyroid Cancer in Patients with Anti-thyroglobulin Antibodies. In: Wartofsky, L., Van Nostrand, D. (eds) Thyroid Cancer. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3314-3_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3314-3_39

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