The use of a highly sensitive Tg assay may represent a useful diagnostic tool for improving the interpretation of Tg results during monitoring of DTC-treated patients for the early detection of recurrence and for optimizing the use of the more expensive rh-TSH test.

Subclinical hypothyroidism significantly decreased cardiac preload, whereas it increased afterload with a consequent reduction in SV and cardiac output. Replacement therapy fully normalized the hemodynamic alterations.

Thyroid dysfunction is frequent in patients who perform a CA, and low T3 syndrome is the predominant feature. The administration of contrast medium may further compromise the thyroid function.

The determination of serum thyroglobulin (Tg) is commonly used for detecting the presence of residual thyroid tissue or cancer recurrence in patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of the study was to evaluate the performance characteristics of a recently introduced fully automated chemiluminescent immunoassay, based on four monoclonal antibodies and which produces results in 40 min. Analytical sensitivity (0·01 µg/l) was computed from 20 replicates of the zero calibrator and of the 'Tg-free' sample pool. Functional sensitivity (0·1 µg/l at 20 coefficients of variation percent) was determined from the imprecision profile obtained by assaying ten serum pools. The reliability of the measurements in the low concentration range (Tg<1 µg/l) has been checked by progressive dilution with the 'Tg-free' serum of a sample pool at 5·27 µg/l; measured values were very close to the expected values (recovery 100-133%).Cut-off at the 99th percentile in DTC stage I 'diseasefree' treated patients (n=53) was 0·16 µg/l. Tg measurement in basal conditions during -thyroxine suppression therapy and 5 days after recombinant human TSH stimulation was performed in 22 patients with DTC. In 80% of patients with basal Tg<0·1 µg/l (12/15), Tg remained<0·1 µg/l after stimulation, and in all of these Tg was<1 µg/l.Our results have indicated the optimal analytical and clinical performance of this Tg immunoassay and encourage further studies on larger populations of patients with DTC.

Streptavidin/111In-biotin scintigraphy is highly sensitive and specific for detecting vertebral osteomyelitis in the first 2 weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms, and is potentially very useful for guiding clinical decisions on instituting appropriate therapy.