Serum and tissue thyroglobulin measurement: Clinical applications in thyroid disease

Since the first demonstration by Van Herle et al. that thyroglobuling (Tg), the main iodo-protein of the thyroid gland, was detectable in the circulat ion of normal subjects by using specific radioimmunoassay, an impressive am ount of papers has been produced, describing several clinical applications of Tg measurements. Now, measurement of Tg is the mainstay in the post-surg ical follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer and an integral part in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with benign thyroid diseases. In this ar ticle we will review the most relevant clinical application of Tg measureme nts in the blood and in other biological material, including: a) serum Tg i n perinatal age and congenital hypothyroidism; b) serum Tg measurements in thyrotoxicosis factitia and in other thyrotoxic conditions associated with low iodine uptake; c) differential diagnosis of thyroid and parathyroid cys ts; and d) clinical relevance of Tg measurement in thyroid cancer. (C) Soci ete francaise de biochimie et biologie moleculaire / Elsevier, Paris.