Thyroglobulin “nonsecretor” metastatic poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma with noniodine concentrating disease and aggressive clinical course: A clinical case series

Ashwini Kalshetty, Sandip Basu

Indian Journal of Nuclear Medicine 2018 33(3):218-223

Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinomas (PDTC) are a subgroup of thyroid cancers with aggressive behavior and worse prognosis compared to the well DTC. Limited diagnostic tools and therapeutic options exist for such cases, and the appropriate management algorithm continues to evolve in this subgroup. They pose difficulty in clinical management due to their behavioral heterogeneity and increased occurrence of aggressive clinical behavior underlining the need for management individualization. In the present communication, a case series of three clinically challenging cases of PDTC (with low serum thyroglobulin (Tg) and iodine nonavidity) are presented with a discourse on their management intrigues, unresolved issues and the requirement of a distinctive management protocol. A small fraction of PDTCs may show low serum Tg values, with the questionable significance of its role for the assessment and monitoring of disease burden in this group of patients. Given uncommon occurrence, limited and variable literature data, management guidelines for "nonsecretor" PDTC needs to be more clearly defined based on scientific evidence. The present clinical case series of PDTC with low serum thyroglobulin in the context of noniodine concentrating metastatic disease and aggressive clinical course ("nonsecretor" status) was noteworthy from this viewpoint.

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