In most patients, this testing is very helpful, but one in five thyroid cancer patients have antibodies in their blood that make it impossible to detect Tg accurately with current testing techniques. Because thyroid cells take up iodine, radioactive iodine can reveal the presence of some recurrent thyroid cancers. Thyrogen is genetically engineered human TSH, exactly like what your own pituitary gland makes. And it does it without stopping thyroxine medication and all of the symptoms of hypothyroidism that this causes. You will be able to continue all your normal daily activities at home and work.
Most patients feel fine.
Occasionally, patients complain of transient nausea or headache after the injections. Strategies for thyrotropin use to monitor patients with treated thyroid carcinoman. Ladenson PW, Braverman LE, Mazzaferri EL, et al. Comparison of recombinant human thyrotropin administration to thyroid hormone withdrawal for radioactive iodione scanning in patients with thyroid carcinoma. Haugen BR, Pacini F, Reiners C, et al.