Unstimulated high-sensitive thyroglobulin is a powerful prognostic predictor in patients with thyroid cancer.

A new interesting article has been published in Clin Chem Lab Med. 2019 Dec 18; 58(1):130-137. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2019-0654. and titled:

Unstimulated high-sensitive thyroglobulin is a powerful prognostic predictor in patients with thyroid cancer.

Authors of this article are:

Giovanella L, Castellana M, Trimboli P.

A summary of the article is shown below:

Background Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) has an excellent prognosis and the role of high-sensitive thyroglobulin measured during levothyroxine (ON-T4 hs-Tg) testing to discriminate patients with structural from not-evidence of disease (SED and NED, respectively) has been investigated. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the performance of ON-T4 hs-Tg in two clinical scenarios considering its negative predictive value (NPV) as primary outcome: (1) diagnostic performance of Tg when undetectable value and NED status are simultaneously demonstrated; (2) prognostic performance of undetectable Tg in predicting NED in the subsequent follow-up. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis were registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019125092). PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL and Web of Science were searched until February 12, 2019. Original articles reporting data on SED/NED in patients with detectable/undetectable ON-T4 hs-Tg were selected. Summary operating points were estimated using a random-effects model. Results Out of 1413 retrieved papers, 10 studies evaluating 1796 patients were included. Participants were outpatients diagnosed with DTC, treated with near-total (NTx) or total thyroidectomy (TTx) with or without radioactive iodine (RAI). The NPV of ON-T4 hs-Tg for diagnostic and prognostic performance was 99.4% (95% CI 98.9-99.9; I2 = 13%) and 99.4% (95% CI 98.8-100; I2 = 0%), respectively. Conclusions Our findings show that ON-T4 hs-Tg is an excellent diagnostic tool and prognostic factor to rule-out SED. A high level of evidence is provided to decrease the intensity and frequency of follow-up in those DTC patients having undetectable high-sensitive Tg.

Check out the article’s website on Pubmed for more information:



This article is a good source of information and a good way to become familiar with topics such as: differentiated thyroid carcinoma; high sensitive; prognostic biomarkers; thyroglobulin.


NativeFolder: The Only Bacterial Culture Medium for the Expression of Soluble Proteins


Interference Test Kit for Assay Validation


Rheumatoid Factor Interference Blocker


New Antibodies from MOLECULAR DEPOT


New Proteins from MOLECULAR DEPOT


New Chemicals from MOLECULAR DEPOT

Molecular Depot

Your specialty peptide, proteins, antibodies and chemical compounds store.