The thyroglobulin variations during the thyroid surgery for polynodular goiter, hyperthyroidism and cancer

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) double antibody system for human thyroglobulin (Tgl) was developed with a sensitivity of 2.5 ng/ml T3 and T4 did not interfere in the antibody Tgl binding. The blood was collected pre-, intra- and 24 hrs post-thyroidectomy from 50 females and 4 males diagnosed as polynodular goiter, hyperthyroidism, chronic thyroiditis and thyroid cancer. The ratios of the intra- and post-operatory values versus pre-operatory values were calculated. The basal values in the patients having thyroid troubles varied within very large limits (two orders of magnitude) and these values could not be clearly correlated to the thyroid pathology, However, in untreated hyperthyroid patients the basal values exceeded 100 ng/ml, while in medullary carcinoma they were near the sensitivity limit of the technique. The intra-operatory values varied within the percentual area (thyroid carcinoma), multiplicative area (polynodular goiter and some cases of hyperthyroidism) and the order of magnitude area (hyperthyroid patients and some of the polynodular goiters). The value of the RIA measurement of the Tgl in the serum as an adjuvant in the post-treatment follow up of thyroid patients is discussed.