SERUM THYROGLOBULIN AND ANTI THYROGLOBULIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH THYROID NODULES

Objectives: To compare the levels and pathological values of serum Tg and TgAb between the patients with benign and malignant thyroid nodules and evaluate the relationship between serum Tg and TgAb levels with the rim characteristic and elasticity score of the nodule by thyroid elasto-echography. Subjects: 30 patients with thyroid nodules, Serum Tg and TgAb levels and thyroid elasto-echography are examen before operation. Results: The ratio of the positive Tg level of malignant thyroid nodules was higher than the benign thyroid nodules (16.7% vs 8.3%) but the serum Tg level was not significantly different (33.48 ± 38.67 ng/ml vs 27.32 ± 28.44 ng/ml, p > 0.05) and The ratio of positive TgAb level of malignant thyroid nodules was higher than that of benign thyroid nodules (22.2% vs 0%) but serum TgAb level was not different (64.15 ± 14.91 UI/ml vs 16.9 ± 14.48 UI/ml, p > 0.05). The combination of the ratio of positive Tg and positive TgAb level did not show any difference in the ratio of pathological value between benign and malignant thyroid nodules (5.6% vs 0%). Serum Tg levels in patients with irregular rim thyroid nodules were higher than those in patients with regular rim thyroid nodules but the serum Tg level was not different when evaluated with the elastic score. Conclusions: The mean level and ratio of the pathological value of serum Tg and TgAb did not differ between malignant and benign thyroid nodules. There is a relationship between serum Tg level and irregular rim characteristic of thyroid nodule (p < 0.05). Key words: serum thyroglobulin level, serum anti thyroglobulin level, thyroid nodule.