Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic value of combined detection of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), thyroglobulin (Tg), calcitonin (CT), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) using a chemiluminescence assay in thyroid carcinoma (TC). METHODS: A total of 320 inpatients with TC - including 261 with papillary TC, 37 with follicular TC, 19 with medullary TC, and 3 with undifferentiated TC - were enrolled as the TC group. Meanwhile, 120 healthy individuals undergoing routine examinations and 120 patients with benign thyroid diseases were included as the control group. Serum levels of CEA, Tg, CT, and TSH were compared between groups and among different pathological types of TC. ROC curves were constructed to assess the diagnostic performance of each biomarker alone and in combination. RESULTS: The combined detection of the four biomarkers yielded a sensitivity of 75.63%, accuracy of 75.54%, and negative predictive value of 69.88%, all higher than those of any single biomarker. ROC analysis showed that the AUC for the combined test of four markers and for the combination of CEA and Tg were 0.840 and 0.768, respectively, both exceeding those of individual tests. The four-marker combination demonstrated the highest diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: Combined measurement of serum CEA, Tg, CT, and TSH significantly enhances the diagnostic efficacy for TC, reducing both misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis rates, and provides a reliable basis for early clinical detection and intervention.