Circulating thyroglobulin measurements by homologous radioimmunoassay in dogs with thyroid carcinoma

Circulating thyroglobulin was measured in 20 dogs with thyroid cancer, using a homologous polyclonal radioimmunoassay. Plasma Tg levels exceeded the normal range in 14 (70%) dogs, and ranged from 6 to 2902 micrograms/l (median 608). Plasma Tg levels tended to decrease from follicular carcinomas to solid-follicular carcinomas, to solid carcinomas (p less than 0.05). Plasma Tg levels were also higher in scintigraphically hot tumours than in cold ones. Other relationships between circulating Tg and clinical, pathological, and functional parameters were not found, except a poor (R = 0.49) but significant (p = 0.04) correlation between Tg and T4 levels. Plasma Tg was measured before surgery and at least once during follow-up, in 9 dogs. After hemithyroidectomy, a decrease was observed in 8 dogs. In 7 of these 8 dogs, plasma Tg levels declined within the reference range at the first postoperative sample. In the ninth dog, where metastases were detected 14 months after surgical treatment, plasma Tg slightly increased, yet within normal range. It is concluded that measurement of plasma Tg levels might be useful for monitoring the postoperative course of the disease in individual dogs with thyroid cancer.