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Thyroglobulin Antibodies Could be a Potential Predictive Marker for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

  • Endocrine Tumors
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT) is associated with an increased risk of developing papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The relationship between thyroid autoimmunity and cancer remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the preoperative TgAb could be a potential predictor of PTC in patients with thyroid nodules and to assess whether there is an association of preoperative TgAb with lymph node metastases.

Methods

This retrospective, nonrandomised study included 854 patients who underwent standard total thyroidectomy. Benign thyroid nodules were diagnosed in 447 patients, and 407 presented with malignant nodules. The examined parameters included the clinical characteristics, preoperative TSH and TgAb levels, and the histopathological characteristics of the tumour.

Results

Tumour size >10 mm (p = 0.01), the presence of PTC (p < 0.001), elevated TSH levels (2.64 ± 1.28 μU/ml vs. 2.09 ± 0.98 μU/ml, p = 0.001), HT (p < 0.001), and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with positive TgAb. Additionally, tumour size >10 mm (p < 0.001), preoperative TgAb positivity (p = 0.003), and elevated TSH levels (TSH > 3.4 μU/ml, p = 0.038) were independent risk factors for PTC based on the multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions

This study showed that TgAb positivity was an independent risk factor for PTC. A positive correlation between TgAb and PTC in patients with indeterminate nodules was existed. Additionally, a positive correlation existed between TgAb and lymph node metastases in patients with PTC. Prospective studies with a larger number of patients and long-term follow-up are needed clarify the potential role of positive serum TgAb in the prediction of PTC.

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There are no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, for the participating authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Venizeleio - Pananeio General Hospital, Herakleion, Alexandroupolis, Greece

    Ioannis Vasileiadis MD & Georgios Charitoudis PhD

  2. Endocrine Unit, Department of Pathophysiology, Laikon General Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Georgios Boutzios MD & Eleni Koukoulioti MD

  3. Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Laikon General Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    Theodore Karatzas PhD

Authors
  1. Ioannis Vasileiadis MD
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  2. Georgios Boutzios MD
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  3. Georgios Charitoudis PhD
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  4. Eleni Koukoulioti MD
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  5. Theodore Karatzas PhD
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Correspondence to Ioannis Vasileiadis MD.

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Vasileiadis, I., Boutzios, G., Charitoudis, G. et al. Thyroglobulin Antibodies Could be a Potential Predictive Marker for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 21, 2725–2732 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3593-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3593-x

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