A very sensitive marker of recurrence of thyroid cancer

Thyroglobulin

• A very sensitive marker of recurrence of thyroid cancer.

• Secreted by the thyroid tissue.

• After total thyroidectomy and RAI ablation, the levels of Tg should be

<0.27 micrograms/L.

• Measurement of Tg levels could be made difficult in the presence of

TgAb, which should be checked.

• Coming off thyroid hormones or giving recombinant TSH increases the

sensitivity of Tg to detect recurrence, but this may not affect survival rates.