Follow-up of patients with thyroid cancer and antithyroglobulin antibodies: a review for clinicians.

Antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) are present in up to 25% of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma on initial postoperative assessment. Detectable concentrations of TgAb even below the manufacturer's cut-off can interfere with serum thyroglobulin (Tg) determination. When Tg is quantified using an immunometric assay (IMA) (hereafter referred to as Tg-IMA), this interference results in underestimated values of Tg. Although promising, more clinical trials evaluating the capacity of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and of new assays to detect elevated Tg in patients with TgAb and structural disease are necessary, particularly when Tg is undetectable by a second-generation IMA (Tg-2GIMA). Neck ultrasonography (US) should be performed in patients submitted to total thyroidectomy and with negative Tg-IMA but with detectable TgAb more than 6 months after initial therapy. In patients treated with 131I, comparison of TgAb concentrations obtained before this treatment is useful to estimate the risk of disease and to guide the investigation. If initial assessment does not reveal any persistent tumor, the repetition of US is recommended while TgAb persist. Significant elevation of TgAb requires extended investigation. On the other hand, patients with negative Tg-IMA and US without abnormalities who exhibit a reduction > 50% in TgAb generally do not require investigation. Although TgAb can interfere with Tg, the management and follow-up of patients submitted to total thyroidectomy with borderline TgAb can probably be the same as those recommended for patients without TgAb if Tg-2GIMA and US indicate an excellent response to therapy. Currently, the presence/absence or the trend of TgAb levels cannot be considered in the follow-up of patients submitted to lobectomy.

Caracterização dos atendimentos clínicos realizados pelo Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência / Characterization of the clinical care provided by the Mobile Emergency Care Service

Objetivo: Caracterizar o perfil dos atendimentos clínicos prestados pelo Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU). Métodos: Estudo descritivo, transversal, não intervencionista, realizado a partir de dados secundários coletados das fichas de regulação do SAMU de um município brasileiro em 2016. Resultados: Das 2.930 ocorrências estudadas, 1.966 foram atendimentos clínicos (67,1%). A incidência desses atendimentos foi maior no sexo feminino (55,2%). A faixa etária mais acometida foi de pessoas com 70 anos ou mais (20,9%). As síndromes álgicas foram as doenças mais incidentes (16,8%), e, dentre elas, a dor abdominal teve destaque, com 35,8%. Com relação ao destino dado à vítima, 60,2% foram encaminhadas ao serviço hospitalar. A Unidade de Suporte Básico foi enviada em 95,0% das ocorrências. A letalidade observada foi de 3,6%. Conclusão: A grande incidência de doenças clínicas e a caracterização epidemiológica do perfil dos atendimentos destacam a importância de direcionar ações preventivas, promoção da saúde e educação da população a respeito da relevância e da área de abrangência do SAMU, a fim de melhorar continuamente o serviço de saúde.

Objective: To characterize the profile of clinical care provided by the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU). Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, non-interventional study based on secondary data collected from SAMUS's regulation sheets in a Brazilian city in 2016. Results: Of the 2,930 cases studied, 1,966 were clinical care (67.1%). The incidence of these visits was higher in females (55.2%). The most affected age group was people aged 70 years or above (20.9%). Pain syndromes were the most incident diseases (16.8%), with abdominal pain being highlighted with 35.8%. Regarding the direction given to the victim, 60.2% were referred to the hospital. Ninety five percent of occurrences were referred to the Basic Support Units. The observed lethality was 3.6%. Conclusion: The high incidence of medical diseases and the epidemiological characterization of the care profile highlights the importance of actions directed to prevention, health promotion and education of the population regarding the relevance and the area of coverage of SAMU, to improve the health service continuously

Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência: perfil dos atendimentos por causas externas / Emergency Mobile Care Service (SAMU): profile of attendance due to external causes

OBJETIVO: Descrever os atendimentos por causas externas realizados pelo serviço de atendimento pré-hospitalar prestado pelo Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU). MÉ- TODOS: Estudo de corte transversal, descritivo, observacional, de abordagem quantitativa, tendo como fonte dados Fichas de Regulação do SAMU de Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, preenchidas no período de 1° de janeiro de 2016 a 31 de dezembro de 2016. RESULTADOS: Foram analisadas 2.930 fichas; destas 964 (32,9%) eram referentes a ocorrências por causas externas. Os agravos mais frequentes foram, em ordem decrescente: acidentes de trânsito, queda da própria altura, queda de altura, agressões e outros. Eram homens 64,5% e a idade média foi de 38,4 anos (zero a 99 anos de idade). A maioria dos agravos se deu durante 12h01 e 18h, e, em 94,8% dos atendimentos, foi enviada uma Unidade de Suporte Básico. Dentre as vítimas, 85,58% foram entregues ao hospital. A letalidade foi de 1,35%. CONCLUSÃO: Governador Valadares recebe diariamente elevada demanda de atendimentos pré-hospitalares por causas externas de diversos pontos da cidade, traduzindo a necessidade de alternativas especializadas e eficazes para os atendimentos. Cabe à atuação do serviço disponibilizar um atendimento precoce, de forma a reduzir o tempo de atendimento, o que resulta em melhor prognóstico dos agravos. (AU)

OBJECTIVE: To describe assistance due to external causes by the pre-hospital care service provided by the Emergency Mobile Care Service (SAMU). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational, quantitative study with data obtained from the Regulation Sheets of the Emergency Mobile Care Service of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, completed in the period from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016. RESULTS: A total of 2,930 records were analyzed, of which 964 (32.9%) were related to occurrences due to external causes. The most frequent problems were, in descending order: traffic accidents, fall from standing, fall from heights, aggressions, and others. Men represented 64.5%, and the mean age was 38.4 years (0 - 99 years old). Most injuries occurred between 12:01 and 6:00 p.m., and in 94.8% of the assistance, a Basic Support Unit was sent. Of the victims, 85.58% were taken to hospital. Lethality was 1.35%. CONCLUSION: Governador Valadares daily receives a large demand for prehospital care due to external causes in several parts of the city, reflecting the need for specialized and effective alternatives for care. It is up to the service to provide early care, to reduce the time of assistance, which results in a better prognosis of the diseases. (AU)

Clinical Impact of Detectable Antithyroglobulin Antibodies Below the Reference Limit (Borderline) in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with Undetectable Serum Thyroglobulin and Normal Neck Ultrasonography After Ablation: A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Interference of antithyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) with serum thyroglobulin (Tg) can occur even at detectable TgAb concentrations below the reference limit (borderline TgAb). Thus, borderline TgAb is considered as TgAb positivity in patients with thyroid cancer. This prospective study evaluated patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma with undetectable Tg and normal neck ultrasonography (US) after total thyroidectomy and ablation with 131I, and compared tumor persistence/recurrence and long-term Tg and TgAb behavior in those with borderline versus undetectable TgAb. METHODS: A total of 576 patients were evaluated, divided into two groups: group A with undetectable TgAb (n = 420), and group B with borderline TgAb (n = 156). RESULTS: Groups A and B were similar in terms of patient and tumor characteristics. The time of follow-up ranged from 24 to 120 months. During follow-up, 11 (2.6%) patients in group A and 5 (3.2%) in group B developed a recurrence (p = 0.77). In group A, recurrences occurred in 9/390 patients who continued to have undetectable TgAb and in 1/9 patients who progressed to borderline TgAb. In group B, recurrences were detected in 1/84 patients who progressed to have undetectable TgAb, in 1/45 who still had borderline TgAb, and in 3/12 who developed elevated TgAb. In the presence of Tg levels <0.2 ng/mL, recurrences were detected in 2/486 patients with undetectable TgAb, in 0/67 with borderline TgAb, and in 3/12 with elevated TgAb. The results of post-therapy whole-body scanning (RxWBS) of 216 patients with Tg ≤0.2 ng/mL and normal US at the time of ablation were also analyzed. In low-risk patients, none of the 40 patients with borderline TgAb and none of the 94 with undetectable TgAb exhibited ectopic uptake on RxWBS. In intermediate-risk patients, lymph node metastases were detected by RxWBS in 1/25 (4%) with borderline TgAb and in 2/57 (3.5%) with undetectable TgAb. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that among low- or intermediate-risk patients with undetectable Tg and normal US after thyroidectomy, those with borderline TgAb are at no greater risk of tumor persistence or recurrence than those with undetectable TgAb. When undetectable Tg levels persist, recurrence should be suspected in the case of a TgAb elevation above the reference limit.