Correlation of Serum Thyroglobulin and Thyroglobulin in the Wash out of the Needle in Thyroid Cancer

갑상선암에서의 혈중 Thyroglobulin 농도와 침생검 검체 Washout Solution의 Thyroglobulin 농도와의 상관관계

Purpose: The most widely accepted tool for follow up management of thyroid cancer patients is serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement, but its value is limited by the interference of anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg Ab). Recently thyroglobulin measurement in the wash out of fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimens (Tg-FNAB) is frequently used for differential diagnosis of recurrences/metastases. The aim of this study was the investigation of the diagnostic utility of Tg-FNAB compared with serum Tg. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 41 consecutive patients with thyroid cancer who were evaluated for Tg-FNAB between January 2007 and February 2008 retrospectively. We ruled out 6 patients who anti-Tg Ab positive (${\geq}$100 U/mL) in the RIA (BRAHMS anti-Tgn RIA 100Det; BRAHMS Aktiengesell schaft, Berlin, Germany). Serum Tg and Tg-FNAB were measured by immunoradiometric assay (BRAHMS Tg pluS RIA 100 Det; BRAHMS Aktienge sellschaft, Berlin, Germany). We evaluated for Tg-FNAB compared with serum Tg and corresponding cytological smear. To compare the values of the two the t-test was used. Results: Tg-FNAB values were significantly higher (median 1,060 ng/mL, range 0.2~434,000 ng/mL) than serum Tg (median 2.5 ng/mL, range 0.9~131 ng/mL) (p=0.0394). The rate of correspondence with Tg-FNAB between cytological result was 87.9% and 65.9% in the case of serum Tg. Tg-FNAB was positive in 28 (24 with positive and 4 with suspicious cytology). Of the remaining 13 patients with negative Tg-FNAB, 1 had suspicious and 12 had unsuspicious cytology. serum Tg was positive in 26 (17 with positive and 3 with suspicious and 6 with unsuspicious cytology), Of the remaining 15 patients with negative serum Tg, 8 was positive in cytological result and 1 had suspicious and 6 had unsuspicious cytology. Conclusions: Tg-FNAB measurement is more accurate with high sensitivity (87.9%) than serum Tg (65.9%). The Tg-FNAB was a useful predictor for detecting recurrences/metastases with serum Tg.

목적: 혈중 thyroglobulin 농도 측정(혈중 TG)은 갑상선암 수술 후 재발 및 전이여부를 판단하는데 중요한 지표이다. 최근엔 혈중 TG와 함께 침생검 검체의 washout solution을 이용한 TG 농도 측정(washout TG)이 추적 검사에 빈번히 사용되고 있다. 본 연구는 혈중 TG와 washout TG간에 어떠한 연관성이 있는지 알아보고자 한다. 대상 및 방법: 2007년 1월부터 2008년 2월까지 국립암센터에 내원한 갑상선암 환자 중 washout TG 와 혈중 TG를 함께 측정한 47명 중 혈중 Anti-Tg Ab 양성(${\geq}$100 U/mL)인 환자 6명을 제외한 41명을 대상으로 하였다. 혈중 TG와 washout TG와 세포검사결과와의 연관성도 조사하였다. 결과 및 결론: Washout TG는 혈중 TG보다 현저하게 높았으며 두 경우의 검사결과 간에 유의한 차이를 보였다(p=0.0394). washout TG와 세포검사결과와의 일치도는 87.8%, 혈중 TG와의 일치도는 56.1%였다. washout TG가 양성인 경우는 28명(세포검사결과 양성: 24, 양성의심: 4), 음성인 경우는 13명(세포검사결과 양성의심: 1, 음성: 12)이었다. serum TG가 양성인 경우는 26명(세포검사결과 양성: 17, 양성의심: 3, 음성: 6), 음성인 경우는 15명(세포검사결과 양성: 8, 양성의심: 1, 음성: 6)이었다. 갑상선암에서의 추적 검사로써 washout TG와 혈중 TG가 상호보완적으로 시행되어질 때 재발과 전이를 찾아내는데 유용하다.