SERUM FERRITIN IN THYROID-CANCER

Serum ferritin, one of the nonspecific tumor markers, was studied in 1 02 thyroid cancer patients, who had been thyroidectomized and were off thyroxine for 1 month, making them hypothyroid. Serum ferritin in thy roid cancer patients was not significantly different as compared to co ntrols. Nevertheless, high levels of serum ferritin were observed in t he thyroid cancer group as compared to primary hypothyroid patients. F urthermore, there was a significant difference in serum ferritin betwe en thyroid cancer patients without metastasis and those with metastasi s, patients with metastasis showing higher levels. Classification of t hyroid cancer patients into different histological types revealed high er ferritin levels in follicular carcinoma as compared to papillary ca rcinoma. These data suggest that, although serum ferritin may not be a tumor marker for thyroid cancer, this parameter seems to be sensitive to the presence of metastasis and the histologic diagnosis.