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. Here, TG is linked to thyroid cancer.