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.