Thyroglobulin
Understanding Thyroglobulin
What is Thyroglobulin?
Thyroglobulin (Tg) test measures the amount of thyroglobulin, a protein made by the thyroid gland. This protein serves as the source for the production of thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The Tg test is primarily used as a marker for thyroid cancer esp. monitoring treatment and recurrence of thyroid cancer after treatment or surgery. In healthy people, the thyroid gland releases very low levels of Tg into the bloodstream along with T3 and T4. Tg levels may also be raised in certain non-cancerous conditions of the thyroid like goiter, increased thyroid activity (eg, Graves disease), or thyroiditis, etc. However, an individual with thyroid cancer may have higher Tg levels than healthy individuals. One also needs to be aware that Tg levels may be falsely high/ low in the presence of anti-Tg autoantibodies (TgAb) and hence prior levels of TgAb should be determined for monitoring Tg in thyroid cancer patients.
What is Thyroglobulin used for?
It is usually conducted if you have symptoms suggestive of hypothyroidism like weight gain, menstrual irregularities, cold intolerance etc. Or if you have symptoms suggestive of hyperthyroidism like weight loss, heat intolerance etc.
Interpreting Thyroglobulin results
Interpretations
1. Thyroglobulin levels are increased in papillary carcinoma of the thyroid and metastatic disease.
2 . Thyroglobulin levels are physiologically raised in newborn babies,in the third trimester of pregnancy, in all forms of hyperthyroidism.
3 . If a patient's thyroglobulin level increases after all of the thyroid gland has been removed, the patient may have a recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer.
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