Implications of Thyroglobulin Antibody Positivity in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Clinical Position Statement

TY - JOUR

T1 - Implications of Thyroglobulin Antibody Positivity in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

T2 - A Clinical Position Statement

AU - Verburg, Frederik A

AU - Luster, Markus

AU - Cupini, Cristina

AU - Chiovato, Luca

AU - Duntas, Leonidas

AU - Elisei, Rossella

AU - Feldt-Rasmussen, Ulla

AU - Rimmele, Harald

AU - Seregni, Ettore

AU - Smit, Johannes W A

AU - Theimer, Christian

AU - Giovanella, Luca

PY - 2013/10/1

Y1 - 2013/10/1

N2 - Background: Even though the presence of antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs) represents a significant problem in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), the current guidelines on the management of DTC that have been published in recent years contain no text concerning the methods to be used for detecting such antibody-related interference in thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement or how to manage TgAb-positive patients in whom Tg cannot be used reliably as a tumor marker. Aim: An international group of experts from the European Thyroid Association Cancer Research Network who are involved in the care of DTC patients met twice to form a consensus opinion on how to proceed with treatment and follow-up in TgAb-positive DTC patients based on the available evidence in the literature. Here we will report on the consensus opinions that were reached regarding technical and clinical issues. Results: This clinical opinion article provides an overview of the available evidence and the resulting consensus recommendations. The current literature does not provide sufficient data for giving evidence-based answers to many questions arising in the care of TgAb-positive DTC patients. Where insufficient evidence was available, a thorough discussion by a group of physician- scientists, all of whom have a distinguished track record in thyroid cancer care, was held to arrive at a consensus expert opinion. The questions and answers discussed were then summarized into an algorithm for the management of TgAb-positive patients. Conclusion: We were able to define 26 consensus expert recommendations and a resulting algorithm for the care of TgAb-positive DTC patients.

AB - Background: Even though the presence of antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAbs) represents a significant problem in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), the current guidelines on the management of DTC that have been published in recent years contain no text concerning the methods to be used for detecting such antibody-related interference in thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement or how to manage TgAb-positive patients in whom Tg cannot be used reliably as a tumor marker. Aim: An international group of experts from the European Thyroid Association Cancer Research Network who are involved in the care of DTC patients met twice to form a consensus opinion on how to proceed with treatment and follow-up in TgAb-positive DTC patients based on the available evidence in the literature. Here we will report on the consensus opinions that were reached regarding technical and clinical issues. Results: This clinical opinion article provides an overview of the available evidence and the resulting consensus recommendations. The current literature does not provide sufficient data for giving evidence-based answers to many questions arising in the care of TgAb-positive DTC patients. Where insufficient evidence was available, a thorough discussion by a group of physician- scientists, all of whom have a distinguished track record in thyroid cancer care, was held to arrive at a consensus expert opinion. The questions and answers discussed were then summarized into an algorithm for the management of TgAb-positive patients. Conclusion: We were able to define 26 consensus expert recommendations and a resulting algorithm for the care of TgAb-positive DTC patients.

U2 - 10.1089/thy.2012.0606

DO - 10.1089/thy.2012.0606

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23692026

SN - 1050-7256

VL - 23

SP - 1211

EP - 1225

JO - Thyroid

JF - Thyroid

IS - 10

ER -