Endocrinology and Metabolism

Original Article

Thyroid
Comparison of Ultrasensitive and Highly Sensitive Assay to Predict Stimulated Thyroglobulin Levels Using Unstimulated Levels in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Patients: Jinsun Jang, Hyun Joo Kim, Seunggyun Ha, Kyong Yeun Jung, Gyeongseo Jung, Sun Wook Cho, Do Joon Park, Gi Jeong Cheon, Young Joo Park; Endocrinol Metab. 2025;40(5):759-771. Published online June 5, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2025.2302

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Background
Thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement is an essential aspect of monitoring for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) patients. This study compared the performances of ultrasensitive Tg (ultraTg) and highly sensitive Tg (hsTg) assays in predicting stimulated Tg levels without thyroid-stimulating hormone stimulation.
Methods
Overall, 268 DTC patients who had undergone total thyroidectomy and either radioiodine treatment or I-123 diagnostic scanning were included. Unstimulated and stimulated Tg levels were measured using hsTg (BRAHMS Dynotest Tg-plus) and ultraTg (RIAKEY Tg immunoradiometric assay) assays. Correlations of each assay with the ability of unstimulated Tg levels to predict stimulated Tg ≥1 ng/mL were analyzed.
Results
hsTg and ultraTg showed a strong correlation (R=0.79, P<0.01); the correlation was weaker in Tg antibody-positive patients (R=0.52). UltraTg demonstrated higher sensitivity in predicting stimulated Tg ≥1 ng/mL compared with hsTg. The optimal cut-off for ultraTg was 0.12 ng/mL (sensitivity, 72.0%; specificity, 67.2%). hsTg at 0.105 ng/mL had lower sensitivity (39.8%) but higher specificity (91.5%). Eight discordant cases with low hsTg (<0.2 ng/mL) but elevated ultraTg (>0.23 ng/mL) were identified; three developed structural recurrence within 3.4 to 5.8 years. Two patients had an excellent response according to hsTg but an indeterminate or biochemical incomplete response according to ultraTg.
Conclusion
UltraTg demonstrated higher sensitivity in predicting positive stimulated Tg levels and potential recurrence compared with hsTg. However, its lower specificity may lead to more frequent classifications of biochemical incomplete response. UltraTg may be beneficial in clinically suspicious cases where hsTg falls below the cut-off, but its broader applicability requires further investigation.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Unstimulated Highly Sensitive Thyroglobulin <0.2 ng/mL: Insufficient to Predict Stimulated Thyroglobulin <1 ng/mL?
Tae Yong Kim
Endocrinology and Metabolism.2025; 40(5): 687. CrossRef
Post-thyroidectomy ultrasonography versus thyroglobulin as a surveillance tool for locoregional recurrence in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A single centre 10-year study
Abhishek Mahajan, Vineeth Kurki, Pranjal Rai, Nilesh Sable, Ujjwal Agarwal, Richa Vaish, Nivedita Chakrabarty, Shreya Shukla, Anil D’Cruz, Prathamesh Pai, Kumar Prabhash, Vanita Noronha, Vijay Patil, Nandini Menon, Sarbani Ghosh Laskar, Asawari Patil, Mun
Frontiers in Endocrinology.2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Case Report

A Case of Thyrotoxicosis During Lithium Therapy.: Young Sik Choi, Yo Han Park, Joon Chul Pyun, Dal Soo Park, Chul Hee Lee, Hyo KYun Chung, Hyun Joo Kim, Soo Yeol Ahn, Jin Sook Jun, Yong Chang Oh; J Korean Endocr Soc. 1998;13(4):629-633. Published online January 1, 2001

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Abstract PDF: Lithium has been established as a drug useful for the treatment of manic depressive disorder. It is now well recognized that long-term administration of this drug is associated with various antithyroid effects such as goiter, and subclinical and overt hypothyroidism. However, it has been associated less commonly with thyrotoxicosis. Recently we experienced a case of thyroitoxicosis during lithium therapy. A 24-year-old man treated with lithium carbonate 900 mg-1,200 mg/day for manic-depressive illness for four weeks. He then complained of nervousness, palpitation, tremor, heat intolerance, and sweating. Neck pain was not noted. At that time the results of thyroid function test were consistent with hyperthyroidism: T3 568.8 ng/dL, TSH 0.01 mU/mL, FT4 6.0 ng/dL, but 24 hr radioiodine uptake was 0.3%. We suspected this case as lithium induced thyrotoxicosis and discontinued lithium administration. After discontinuation of lithium thyrotoxic symptoms were subsided. One month later, thyroid hormon levels became normalized: T 100.2 ng/dL, TSH 0.06 mU/mL, FT4 0.97 ng/dL and 24hr radioiodine uptake was 16%. We report this case with review of literatures.

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