Thyroglobulin measurements in washout of fine needle aspirates in cervical lymph nodes for detection of papillary thyroid cancer metastases.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the measurement of thyroglobulin in washout needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB-Tg) to detect papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) metastases.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

Forty-three patients (51.4 ± 14.6 years) with PTC diagnosis and evidence of enlarged cervical lymph nodes (LN) were included. An ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration of suspicious LN was performed, for both cytological examination and measurement of FNAB-Tg.

RESULTS:

The median values of FNAB-Tg in patients with metastatic LN (n = 5) was 3,419 ng/mL (11.1-25,538), while patients without LN metastasis (n = 38) showed levels of 3.7 ng/mL (0.8-7.4). Considering a 10 ng/mL cutoff value for FNAB-Tg, the sensitivity and specificity was 100%. There were no differences on the median of FNAB-Tg measurements between those on (TSH 0.07 mUI/mL) or off levothyroxine (TSH 97.4 mUI/mL) therapy (3.3 vs. 3.8 ng/mL, respectively; P = 0.2).

CONCLUSION:

The results show that evaluation of FNAB-Tg in cervical LN is a valuable diagnostic tool for PTC metastases that can be used independent of the thyroid status.

• Authors: André B Zanella, Erika L Souza Meyer, Letícia Balzan, Antônio C Silva, Joíza Camargo, Alceu Migliavacca, José Ricardo Guimarães, Ana Luiza Maia
• Journal: Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia (Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol) Vol. 54 Issue 6 Pg. 550-4 (Aug 2010) ISSN: 1677-9487 [Electronic] Brazil
• PMID: 20857060 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Thyrotropin
• Thyroglobulin

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Biopsy, Fine-Needle (methods)
• Carcinoma
• Carcinoma, Papillary (diagnosis, secondary)
• Female
• Humans
• Lymph Nodes (chemistry, pathology)
• Lymphatic Metastasis (diagnosis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neck
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Thyroglobulin (analysis)
• Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
• Thyroid Neoplasms (diagnosis, secondary)
• Thyrotropin (physiology)