What is Thyroglobulin?
Thyroglobulin is the protein precursor of thyroid hormone and is made by normal well differentiated benign thyroid cells or thyroid cancer cells. Thyroglobulin is made by normal thyroid cells, and made by most thyroid cancer cells. For example, for patients with papillary or follicular thyroid cancer, nearly all cancer cells make thyroglobulin. Patients with medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer will not make any thyroglobulin.
Thyroglobulin testing is primarily used as a tumor marker to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer and to monitor for recurrence.
If the thyroid gland has been removed, the normal range is equal to, or less than 3.
Patients without a known diagnosis of thyroid cancer do not generally benefit from having the levels of thyroglobulin measured. Some patients with antithyroglobulin antibodies may have inaccurate thyroglobulin levels measured in the lab if the antibodies interfere with the assay, but this is uncommon.
References:
- https://www.thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/vol-6-issue-8/vol-6-issue-8-p-8-9/
- http://www.thyca.org/pap-fol/more/thyroglobulin/
Thyroglobulin
Every lab result you’ve ever had, charted and explained.
Healthmatters is a tracker for your lab results. Upload a report from any lab, any country — every marker charted and explained.
Start with my report →
All our content is backed by peer-reviewed studies, academic research, and trusted medical sources. We’re committed to accuracy and transparency — see our editorial policy for details.