Recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH). Diagnostic agent for use in well-differentiated thyroid cancer

Medical Services Advisory Committee
Record ID 32003000106
English
Authors' objectives:

Thyrogen (TM) (thyrotropin alpha for injection) contains a highly purified recombinant form of human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH). This report summarises the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of rhTSH as a diagnostic agent for well-differentiated thyroid cancer, on the basis of the currently available evidence and in the context of the Australian public health care setting. This review is specific to well-differentiated papillary and follicular cancer, for which current practice guidelines recommend regular follow-up monitoring by radioiodine whole body scanning (WBS) and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) testing.

Authors' recommendations: MSAC recommended that on the strength of evidence pertaining to the diagnostic use of recombinant thyroid-stimulating hormone in well-differentiated thyroid cancer, public funding should be supported for this procedure only in patients in whom THT withdrawal is medically contraindicated. In addition, on the basis of the current evidence, both rhTSH-stimulated whole body scanning and serum Tg testing should be undertaken concurrently. MSAC recommends that public funding for rhTSH should not be supported in patients who are able to tolerate THT withdrawal, on the basis of lower diagnostic accuracy and a high cost-effectiveness ratio.
Authors' methods: Systematic review
Details
Project Status: Completed
URL for project: http://www.msac.gov.au/
Year Published: 2002
English language abstract: An English language summary is available
Publication Type: Not Assigned
Country: Australia
MeSH Terms
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Thyroid Neoplasms
  • Thyrotropin
Contact
Organisation Name: Medical Services Advisory Committee
Contact Address: MSAC (MDP 107), GPO Box 9848, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. Tel: +61 2 6289 6811; Fax: +61 2 6289 8799.
Contact Name: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Contact Email: msac.secretariat@health.gov.au
Copyright: Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.