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Copper as Ancillary Diagnostic Tool in Preoperative Evaluation of Possible Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients with Benign Thyroid Disease

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Abstract

Preoperative diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) comprises numerous diagnostic procedures which are mostly applicable in tertiary institutions. Normal thyroid function depends on the presence of many trace elements and copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) are some of those. The study is based on retrospective review of 118 patients with preoperatively diagnosed benign thyroid disease (BTD) and 12 with PTC, who underwent thyroid surgery at the Center for Endocrine Surgery Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, between 2010 and 2012. The objective was to evaluate concentrations of Cu and Zn in serum as possible prediction markers for PTC in patients who underwent surgery for preoperatively diagnosed BTD. Concentrations of Cu and Zn ions in serum were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Data were analyzed using methods of descriptive statistics, Anova and t-test (p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant). Definitive pathohistological findings revealed PTC in 23 (19.5 %) and papillary microcarcinoma—mPTC in 13 (11.0 %) of BTD patients. The concentrations of Cu ions in serum of PTC patients as well as in serum of patients with mPTC were significantly higher than in serum of BTD patients (p < 0.05). The concentrations of Zn ions and Cu/Zn ratio in serum of PTC and mPTC patients were not significantly higher than in serum of BTD patients. The concentration of Cu ions in serum of patients before thyroid surgery can be useful, easy available, and a low-cost tool in prediction of preoperatively undiagnosed PTC in patients with BTD.

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (projects 172051 and 175058).

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Vesna V. Dragutinović

  2. Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Svetislav B. Tatić & Duško M. Dunđerović

  3. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Snežana D. Nikolić-Mandić

  4. Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia

    Tatjana M. Tripković

  5. Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    Ivan R. Paunović

Authors
  1. Vesna V. Dragutinović
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  2. Svetislav B. Tatić
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  3. Snežana D. Nikolić-Mandić
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  4. Tatjana M. Tripković
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  5. Duško M. Dunđerović
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  6. Ivan R. Paunović
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Correspondence to Vesna V. Dragutinović.

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Dragutinović, V.V., Tatić, S.B., Nikolić-Mandić, S.D. et al. Copper as Ancillary Diagnostic Tool in Preoperative Evaluation of Possible Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients with Benign Thyroid Disease. Biol Trace Elem Res 160, 311–315 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0071-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-014-0071-z

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