The predictive value for excellent response to initial therapy in differentiated thyroid cancer:...

This study aimed to identify the predictive value of the low preablation-stimulated thyroglobulin (ps-Tg, <2 ng/ml) for excellent response to radioiodine remnant ablation in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

A total of 398 consecutive patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine remnant ablation therapy were reviewed retrospectively. Each patient was risk-stratified using the American Joint Cancer Committee and risk staging systems and using response to the initial therapy reclassification system. ps-Tg was defined as less than 2 ng/ml with negative thyroglobulin antibody under thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulation. A multivariate analysis was carried out for ps-Tg, TNM stage, and other potential clinical and pathologic factors.

We followed the patients for a median of 32.7 months. Overall, an excellent rate of response was achieved in 367 (92.2%) of the 398 patients. The only variable found to be associated with excellent response was ps-Tg (odds ratio=2.530, P=0.009) by multivariate analysis. The subgroups with 0

There is a good probability that most low ps-Tg (<2 ng/ml) patients can achieve an excellent response. ps-Tg is the essential and independent predictor for an excellent response in the patients with ps-Tg less than 2 ng/ml, which is better than TNM stage.