Serum thyroid autoantibodies in malignant thyroid nodules

Authors

  • Towhidur Rahman Awal Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1881-2328
  • Sadia Islam Nabila National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4200-0784
  • Mst. Shaila Yesmin Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Debatosh Paul Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6872-9255
  • Shahjada Selim Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7749-3542
  • Nayla Islam Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5688-5723

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v17i3.74632

Keywords:

thyroid nodule, thyroid cancer, thyroid peroxidase antibody, thyroglobulin antibody

Abstract

Background: Thyroid cancer is one of the most common malignant tumours of the endocrine system. Thyroid autoantibodies were reported to be associated with malignant thyroid nodules. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of serum thyroid autoantibody levels for malignant thyroid nodules.

Methods: From March 2023 to January 2024, we recruited 104 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules confirmed by ultrasonography in three departments of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Out of these, 52 were diagnosed with malignant thyroid nodules using fine needle aspiration cytology, while the remaining 52 had benign thyroid nodules. Serum thyroid autoantibodies were measured using the immunoassay technique.

Results: The mean levels of serum thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were significantly higher (P<0.001) in the malignant group compared to the benign group (36.1 versus 24.0 IU/mL). The mean levels of serum thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) were also significantly higher (P<0.001) in the malignant group (39.8 IU/mL versus 29.1 IU/mL). Elevated TPOAb (>40 IU/mL) and TgAb (>35 IU/mL) showed reasonable accuracy (60% to 65%) in detecting malignancy of thyroid nodules.

Conclusions: Thyroid malignancy is positively associated with TgAb and TPOAb. Therefore, thyroid autoantibodies could be considered for screening malignancy in thyroid nodules.

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Author Biography

Nayla Islam, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Department of Laboratory Medicine, BSMMU, Dhaka, Post Graduate

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Published

2024-08-27

How to Cite

Awal, T. R., Nabila, S. I., Yesmin, M. S., Paul, D., Selim, S., & Islam, N. (2024). Serum thyroid autoantibodies in malignant thyroid nodules. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal, 17(3), e74632. https://doi.org/10.3329/bsmmuj.v17i3.74632

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Research article

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