Thyroglobulin, Tumor Marker (Includes Anti-TG)
| Label Mnemonic: | TG |
| Epic code: | LAB955 |
| Downtime form: | A-1a Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery |
Commercial Mailout Laboratory
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
6240-8 RCP
356-8593
Specimen(s):
Serum
Collection Medium:
 |
| Red top tube 5 mL (Clot Activator) |
Minimum:
Preferred Minimum: 1.0 mL serum
Turn Around
Time:
24 hours upon receipt at reference laboratory (upon receipt in laboratory)
Reference Range:
THYROGLOBULIN, TUMOR MARKER
Athyrotic: <0.1 ng/mL
Intact thyroid < or =33 ng/mL
THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY
< 1.8 IU/mL
Reference values apply to all ages.
Athyrotic: <0.1 ng/mL
Intact thyroid < or =33 ng/mL
THYROGLOBULIN ANTIBODY
< 1.8 IU/mL
Reference values apply to all ages.
Interpretive Data:
Current guidelines recommend measurement of Tg with a sensitive
immunoassay - limit of quantification <1.0 ng/mL; for measurements of
unstimulated Tg, the detection limit should be in the 0.1 to 0.2 ng/mL
range.
In all cases, serum TgAb should also be measured, preferably with a method that allows detection of low concentrations of TgAb. If TgAb are detected, the laboratory report should alert the ordering provider to the possibility of false-low Tg results if using an immunometric assay. If the apparent Tg concentration is <1.0 ng/mL, the sample should be remeasured by mass spectrometry. This will allow accurate detection of Tg, in the presence of TgAb, down to 0.5 ng/mL (risk of residual/recurrent disease <1%-3%).
The decision levels listed below, are for thyroid cancer follow up of athyrotic patients and apply to unstimulated and stimulated thyroglobulin measurements. Decision levels are based on best practice guidelines and the literature, which includes studies from the reference laboratory.
Decision levels for thyroid cancer patients, who are not completely athyrotic (ie, patient has some remnant normal thyroid tissue), have not been established, but are likely to be somewhat higher: remnant normal thyroid tissue contributes to serum Tg concentrations 0.5 to 1.0 ng/mL per gram of remnant tissue, depending on the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level.
Tg <0.1 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels <0.1 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate a minimal risk (<1-2%) of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
Tg > or = 0.1 to 2.0 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels 0.1 to 2.0 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate a low risk of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
Tg 2.1 ng/mL to 9.9 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels 2.1 to 9.9 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate an increased risk of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
Tg > or = 10 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels > or =10 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate a significant risk (>25%) of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
In all cases, serum TgAb should also be measured, preferably with a method that allows detection of low concentrations of TgAb. If TgAb are detected, the laboratory report should alert the ordering provider to the possibility of false-low Tg results if using an immunometric assay. If the apparent Tg concentration is <1.0 ng/mL, the sample should be remeasured by mass spectrometry. This will allow accurate detection of Tg, in the presence of TgAb, down to 0.5 ng/mL (risk of residual/recurrent disease <1%-3%).
The decision levels listed below, are for thyroid cancer follow up of athyrotic patients and apply to unstimulated and stimulated thyroglobulin measurements. Decision levels are based on best practice guidelines and the literature, which includes studies from the reference laboratory.
Decision levels for thyroid cancer patients, who are not completely athyrotic (ie, patient has some remnant normal thyroid tissue), have not been established, but are likely to be somewhat higher: remnant normal thyroid tissue contributes to serum Tg concentrations 0.5 to 1.0 ng/mL per gram of remnant tissue, depending on the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level.
Tg <0.1 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels <0.1 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate a minimal risk (<1-2%) of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
Tg > or = 0.1 to 2.0 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels 0.1 to 2.0 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate a low risk of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
Tg 2.1 ng/mL to 9.9 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels 2.1 to 9.9 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate an increased risk of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
Tg > or = 10 ng/mL: Thyroglobulin levels must be interpreted in the context of TSH levels, serial Tg measurements and radioiodine ablation status. Tg levels > or =10 ng/mL in athyrotic individuals on suppressive therapy indicate a significant risk (>25%) of clinically detectable recurrent papillary/follicular thyroid cancer.
Comments:
Useful for follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancers
after thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine ablation.
Cautions:
The test is most sensitive for detection of thyroid cancer recurrence when patients are off thyroid replacement long enough to have an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) prior to drawing the specimen. This test also can be used to follow patients with normal TSH; however, thyroglobulin (Tg) values from specimens with high TSH should not be compared with values with normal TSH, because TSH stimulation changes the baseline determinations.
Thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) may interfere with the measurement of Tg. All specimens are prescreened for TgAb and a comment appended to the report if they are present. Undetectable levels of Tg should be interpreted with caution if TgAb are present. A Tg antibody result of <4 IU/mL is unlikely to cause clinically significant Tg assay interference. It is recommended that the Tg result be reviewed for concordance with clinical presentation.
Specimens with Tg concentrations >250,000 ng/mL may "hook" and appear to have markedly lower levels.
Tg and TgAb values determined by different methodologies might vary significantly and cannot be directly compared with one another. Some patients might be antibody-positive by some methods and antibody- negative by others. Comparing values from different methods might lead to erroneous clinical interpretation.
Cautions:
The test is most sensitive for detection of thyroid cancer recurrence when patients are off thyroid replacement long enough to have an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) prior to drawing the specimen. This test also can be used to follow patients with normal TSH; however, thyroglobulin (Tg) values from specimens with high TSH should not be compared with values with normal TSH, because TSH stimulation changes the baseline determinations.
Thyroglobulin autoantibodies (TgAb) may interfere with the measurement of Tg. All specimens are prescreened for TgAb and a comment appended to the report if they are present. Undetectable levels of Tg should be interpreted with caution if TgAb are present. A Tg antibody result of <4 IU/mL is unlikely to cause clinically significant Tg assay interference. It is recommended that the Tg result be reviewed for concordance with clinical presentation.
Specimens with Tg concentrations >250,000 ng/mL may "hook" and appear to have markedly lower levels.
Tg and TgAb values determined by different methodologies might vary significantly and cannot be directly compared with one another. Some patients might be antibody-positive by some methods and antibody- negative by others. Comparing values from different methods might lead to erroneous clinical interpretation.
Methodology:
Immunoenzymatic Assay
All specimens are screened for the presence of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin.
All specimens are screened for the presence of autoantibodies to thyroglobulin.
CPT Code:
84432-Thyroglobulin, tumor marker
86800-Thyroglobulin antibody screen
86800-Thyroglobulin antibody screen
See also:
Thyroglobulin Antibodies (Autoimmune Thyroiditis), Plasma
Thyroglobulin Antibodies (Autoimmune Thyroiditis), Plasma