Bojunga et al (2000) reported that using a ‘normal sensitivity’ (30 cycles of PCR) resulted in the detection of Tg-mRNA in nine out of 13 patients with thyroid cancer and known metastases, 63 out of 137 patients with a history of thyroid cancer without known metastases, 21 out of 85 patients with benign thyroid disorders and in nine out of 50 control subjects. The gene discussed is TG; the disease is thyroid gland carcinoma.