Table 4.

Biochemical Studies: The Postoperative Stimulated Thyroglobulin

Predictors/outcomes	Median values (ng/mL)	(range in ng/mL)	p-value
Effects of pathologic variables on sTg
Tall cell variant	10 vs. 1.8	(0.1–601 vs. 0.1–500)	0.20
T4 classificationa	15 vs. 1.9	(0.5–601 vs. 0.1–500)	0.24
Extranodal extensionb	20 vs. 1.3	(0.1–601 vs. 0.1–500)	0.03
Pre-ablation sTg and outcomes
Incomplete biochemical response	11 vs. 1	(0.1–600 vs. 0.1–3.1)	0.002
Nodal recurrence	82 vs. 1.3	(0.1–601 vs. 0.1–483)	0.003
Distant metastases	491 vs. 1.8	(11.2–601 vs. 0.1–179)	0.0001

n=40. Sample restricted to previously untreated patients after surgery but before initial RAI treatment.

^aAJCC, 7th ed. (1).

^bENE present at the time of the neck dissection.