Thyroglobulin and Antithyroglobulin Antibody Dynamics  Following Radioactive Iodine Therapy in Post-Thyroidectomy  Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patients

Cherlyna Cherlyna; Rudy Thabry; Zainal Abidin; Habusari Hapkido; John Pieter Jr; Muhammad Faruk; Prihantono Prihantono

doi:10.31557/apjcc.2025.10.4.1157-1161

Authors

Cherlyna Cherlyna Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia.
Rudy Thabry Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2093-2935
Zainal Abidin Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mulawarman University, Samarinda, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8469-7094
Habusari Hapkido Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Abdul Wahab Sjahranie Hospital, Samarinda, Indonesia.
John Pieter Jr Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4407-9668
Muhammad Faruk Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia. Hasanuddin University Hospital, Makassar, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7079-4585
Prihantono Prihantono Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia. Hasanuddin University Hospital, Makassar, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8247-0457

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcc.2025.10.4.1157-1161

Keywords:

Thyroglobulin, Antithyroglobulin antibody, Papillary thyroid carcinoma, Radioablation

Abstract

Background: In some cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), residual tissues are observed to persistently after total thyroidectomy has been performed. In an attempt to provide further treatment, radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy is administered to obtain remission. Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) are widely used biomarkers to evaluate treatment response. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamic changes in serum Tg and TgAb levels following RAI therapy in post-thyroidectomy PTC patients, and to determine the predictive value of preablation biomarkers on postablation outcomes.

Methods: This observational analytic study employed a prospective cohort design. It was conducted with 51 patients with PTC who have undergone total thyroidectomy. Tg and TgAb levels were measured both pre- and one-month post-ablation. Associations were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods.

Result: The mean preablation Tg level was 82.2 ± 196.1 ng/mL, decreasing slightly to 73.7 ± 198.9 ng/mL post-ablation. However, Tg levels increased in 29.5% of patients following RAI therapy. A significant correlation was observed between preablation and postablation Tg levels (P < 0.001). Importantly, 56.9% of patients had persistently positive TgAb before and after ablation, with no observed change in status. Moreover, TgAb positivity showed no significant association with postablation Tg levels (P = 0.55), suggesting its limited utility as a post-therapy prognostic indicator.

Conclusion: Preablation Tg level shows a significant correlation with postablation Tg outcomes, supporting their predictive value. However, RAI therapy showed limited effectiveness in reducing TgAb levels in certain patients, with preablation Tg being a predictor of postablation levels.