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Abstract Context Because subclinical hyperthyroidism increases the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, concerns are growing about the long-term skeletal safety of TSH suppression therapy after total thyroidectomy in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Objective We aimed to determine the effect of TSH suppression therapy on bone mineral density (BMD) in DTC patients. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library, and other sources. Eligible observational studies included DTC patients who underwent TSH suppression therapy and BMD measurement. Two independent reviewers extracted data on the studies’ characteristics and outcomes and determined their risk of bias. Data were extracted from each study for postmenopausal/premenopausal women’s and men’s lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), and total hip (TH) BMD and summed using a random-effects meta-analysis model. The weighted mean differences with 95% CIs are expressed for the differences in outcome measurements between groups. Results Seventeen studies (739 patients and 1085 controls) were included for quantitative analysis. In postmenopausal women, TSH suppression therapy showed a significant decrease in LS BMD (-0.03; -0.05, -0.02), and a similar trend was seen in TH. In premenopausal women, TSH suppression therapy significantly increased LS BMD (0.04; 0.02, 0.06) and FN BMD (0.02; 0.01, 0.04). In men, there was no significant association between TSH suppression therapy and BMD at any site compared with the controls. Conclusion Evidence from observational studies suggests that postmenopausal women treated with TSH suppression therapy are at risk for lower BMD. Attention should be paid to long-term skeletal safety in DTC survivors.

This trial compared two thyrotropin-stimulation methods and two 131I doses for postoperative ablation in patients with low-risk thyroid cancer. Rates of ablation were similar in all treatment groups. Doses lower than those currently recommended may be adequate for this condition. Radioiodine ( 131 i) is administered to patients with thyroid cancer after total thyroidectomy for three reasons 1 – 3 : first, to eradicate normal-thyroid remnants (ablation) in order to achieve an undetectable serum thyroglobulin level; second, to irradiate any neoplastic focus in order to decrease the risk of recurrence; and third, to perform 131 I total-body scanning for persistent carcinoma. Successful ablation is defined by the combination of undetectable serum thyroglobulin levels after thyrotropin stimulation and normal results on neck ultrasonography 6 to 12 months after 131 I administration. 2 , 3 When these criteria are met, approximately 1% of patients have a recurrence. 4 – 6 In . . .

In this trial, low-dose radioiodine was as effective as high-dose radioiodine in patients with differentiated thyroid tumors, and recombinant human thyrotropin (thyrotropin alfa) was as effective as thyroid hormone withdrawal. Thyroid cancer is the most frequently occurring endocrine cancer, with more than 2100 new cases each year in the United Kingdom and more than 48,000 in the United States. 1 , 2 Most cases are differentiated thyroid cancer, which is associated with a high 10-year survival rate (90 to 95%). 3 Many patients with differentiated thyroid cancer undergo radioiodine ablation to remove residual normal thyroid tissue after surgery. Some nonrandomized studies have suggested that radioiodine ablation reduces rates of death and recurrence. 4 – 7 However, there is uncertainty over the dose (administered activity) of radioiodine required for effective ablation. A systematic review of randomized . . .

Abstract PurposeThyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) inevitably induced hypothyroidism in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), and we aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH, ZGrhTSH) as an alternative of THW in China.MethodsTotally, 64 DTC patients were enrolled with 24 in the dose-escalation cohort equally grouped into 0.9 mg × 1 day, 0.9 mg × 2 day, 1.8 mg × 1 day, and 1.8 mg × 2 day dosage, and 40 further enrolled into 0.9 mg × 2 day dose-expansion cohort. All patients underwent both ZGrhTSH phase and levothyroxine (L-T4) withdrawal phase for self-comparison in terms of TSH levels, the radioactive iodine (RAI) uptake, stimulated thyroglobulin level, and the quality of life (QoL).ResultsIn ZGrhTSH phase, no major serious adverse events were observed, and mild symptoms of headache were observed in 6.3%, lethargy in 4.7%, and asthenia in 3.1% of the patients, and mostly resolved spontaneously within 2 days. Concordant RAI uptake was noticed in 89.1% (57/64) of the patients between ZGrhTSH and L-T4 withdrawal phases. The concordant thyroglobulin level with a cut-off of 1 μg/L was noticed in 84.7% (50/59) of the patients without the interference of anti-thyroglobulin antibody. The QoL was far better during ZGrhTSH phase than L-T4 withdrawal phase, with lower Billewicz (− 51.30 ± 4.70 vs. − 39.10 ± 16.61, P < 0.001) and POMS (91.70 ± 16.70 vs. 100.40 ± 22.11, P = 0.011) scores which indicate the lower the better. Serum TSH level rose from basal 0.11 ± 0.12 mU/L to a peak of 122.11 ± 42.44 mU/L 24 h after the last dose of ZGrhTSH. In L-T4 withdrawal phase, a median of 23 days after L-T4 withdrawal was needed, with the mean TSH level of 82.20 ± 31.37 mU/L. The half-life for ZGrhTSH clearance was about 20 h.ConclusionThe ZGrhTSH held the promise to be a safe and effective modality in facilitating RAI uptake and serum thyroglobulin stimulation, with better QoL of patients with DTC compared with L-T4 withdrawal.

Thyroid carcinoma is diagnosed in 14,000 people each year in the United States. 1 Most are effectively treated by surgery, followed often by radioiodine therapy and always by thyroid hormone therapy to suppress the secretion of thyrotropin. These patients require monitoring for recurrence of tumor, which can occur decades later. 2 , 3 In some patients, monitoring includes periodic discontinuation of thyroid hormone therapy for radioiodine scanning 4 , 5 and measurement of serum thyroglobulin 6 , 7 to detect residual or recurrent thyroid carcinoma. As a consequence of discontinuing thyroid hormone therapy, patients typically have symptomatic hypothyroidism, some may not have a sufficient increase in thyrotropin . . .

The sensitivity for disease detection by radioiodine scanning and serum thyroglobulin measurements after rhTSH stimulation is comparable to that of the conventional thyroid hormone withdrawal method (6). Because symptoms of hypothyroidism are avoided, these patients do not experience a decrease in quality of life and maintain their ability to work, thus reducing economic loss for me payer and society (7). [...] patients treated with rhTSH are less likely to need sick leave than those whose thyroxine is withdrawn (8).

In order to effectively treat differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) with radioiodine (RAI) it is necessary to raise serum TSH levels either endogenously by thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) or exogenously by administration of recombinant human TSH (rhTSH). The goal of this review is to present current data on the relative efficacy and side effects profile of rhTSH-aided versus THW-aided RAI therapy for the treatment of patients with distant metastases of DTC. We have searched the PubMed database for articles including the keywords \"rhTSH\", \"thyroid cancer\", and \"distant metastases\" published between January 1, 1996 and January 7, 2012. As references, we used clinical case series, case reports, review articles, and practical guidelines. Exogenous stimulation of TSH is associated with better quality of life because it obviates signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism resulting from endogenous TSH stimulation. The rate of neurological complications after rhTSH and THW-aided RAI therapy for brain and spine metastases is similar. The rate of leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, xerostomia, and pulmonary fibrosis is similar after preparation for RAI treatment with rhTSH and THW. There is currently a controversy regarding RAI uptake in metastatic lesions after preparation with rhTSH versus THW, with some studies suggesting equal and some superior uptake after preparation with THW. Analysis of available retrospective studies comparing survival rates, progression free survival, and biochemical and structural response to a dosimetrically-determined dose of RAI shows similar efficacy after preparation for therapy with rhTSH and THW. The rhTSH stimulation is not presently approved by the FDA as a method of preparation for adjunctive therapy with RAI in patients with metastatic DTC. Data on rhTSH compassionate use suggest that rhTSH stimulation is as equally effective as THW as a method of preparation for dosimetry-based RAI treatment in patients with RAI-avid metastatic DTC.

The answer is, yes, to a limited extent (panel). A typical (statistical) reference range for thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in many laboratories is around 0.2-5.5 mU/L. However, the 20-year longitudinal Whickham survey indicated that individuals with TSH values greater than 2.0 mU/L have an increased risk of developing overt hypothyroidism over the next 20 years.6 Subclinical autoimmune thyroid disease is so common in the population (up to 40% of women have lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid and 10-15% have thyroid autoantibodies?) that laboratory reference ranges derived from testing apparently healthy subjects could easily be contaminated by diseased individuals. Indeed, if only individuals negative for antibodies against thyroid peroxidase and with no personal history of thyroid disease are tested, 95% of TSH values lie within 0.48-3.60,8 and the US National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry (NACB) recommends the use of such a revised normal range. Importantly, several studies have detected an increase in thyroid peroxidase antibody positivity with TSH concentrations outside the narrow range 0-2-1-9 mU/L,84 providing evidence that TSH in the upper reference range is often associated with abnormal pathology in the thyroid.

Pituitary apoplexy occurs as a very rare complication of the pituitary function test. We have experienced two cases of pituitary apoplexy following anterior pituitary function tests for preoperative assessment: a triple bolus test and a TRH test. To elucidate such a rare complication, we outline our two cases and review 28 cases from the literature. The clinical characteristics, etiology, pathophysiology, and diagnostic and therapeutic implications are also discussed. The combined data suggest that pituitary function tests have the potential to precipitate pituitary apoplexy, and its manifestations range from a clinically benign event to a catastrophic presentation with permanent neurological deficits or even death, although most patients may fortunately have a good outcome. We suggest that the pituitary function test should not be done as a routine test, and when such a test is planned, the patient should be observed with caution for any symptomatic changes for at least 2 hours following the test for appropriate treatment. Further, MRI, especially enhanced studies, may provide an earlier diagnosis of the pituitary apoplexy since CT scan images often fail to demonstrate either density changes or obvious enlargement of the pituitary adenoma at the acute stage.