The role of preoperative serum thyroglobulin in the diagnosis and treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is a critical marker for monitoring tumor recurrence and metastasis in patients who have undergone total thyroidectomy for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). While the definitive role of preoperative serum Tg in DTC is not yet established, studies suggest its importance in differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology, as well as in predicting distant metastasis (DM) in patients with DTC.

Methods: A thorough literature review was conducted on the use of preoperative serum Tg in differentiating between benign and malignant thyroid nodules, and in evaluating the extent of DTC lesions.

A Long-Term Study Comparing the Quality of Life and Psychological Status of Patients with Highly Suspicious Thyroid Nodules ≤1 cm Undergoing Active Surveillance with Those Undergoing Immediate Surgery.

Limited information is available on the long-term impact of active surveillance (AS) and immediate surgery (IS) on the quality of life (QoL) and psychological status of patients with highly suspicious subcentimeter thyroid nodules. A prospective study was conducted on 752 patients showing highly suspicious subcentimeter thyroid nodules, among whom 584 chose AS and 168 chose IS. All patients underwent at least two assessments regarding their QoL and psychological status, using three questionnaires: Thyroid Cancer-Specific Quality of Life (THYCA-QoL), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Core Questionnaire (QLQ-C30).