Increased levels of thyroglobulin (ranging from 12 to >600 ng/ml) were measured in 40 of 55 (73%) patients with metastases or local recurrences. Ultrasonography revealed occult neck masses that were not detected by other methods. Neck ultrasonography and ultrasound-guided biopsy were positive for malignancy in 23 patients. Thyroglobulin levels were undetectable in 12 (52%) of these patients and 131-J whole-body scintigraphy was negative in 19 (83%) of them. The combined use of three diagnostic modalities (measurement of serum thyroglobulin, neck ultrasonography with ultrasound-guided biopsy for detecting recurrences of carcinoma in the neck region and 131-J whole-body scintigraphy) appears to give the best results in the follows-up patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita