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Dual-modality FDG-PET/CT in follow-up of patients with recurrent iodine-negative differentiated thyroid cancer

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Abstract

The usefulness of combined 2-[18F] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) in locating suspected recurrence in patients with iodine-negative differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) was evaluated. Thirty-six patients with DTC and suspected iodine-negative recurrence underwent restaging with FDG-PET/CT. The images of CT, FDG-PET, both modalities viewed side by side (CT+PET), and FDG-PET/CT were evaluated by two physicians separately. Imaging results were correlated with either histology (n = 20) and/or clinical follow-up of at least 36 months. Recurrent disease was diagnosed in 22/36 patients. FDG-PET alone, CT alone, CT+PET, and FDG-PET/CT showed a sensitivity of 82%, 73%, 91%, and 96%, respectively. Specificities were 79%, 71%, 79%, and 100%, respectively. FDG-PET/CT significantly improved specificity compared with CT+PET and resulted in a further treatment modification in 5/36 patients (14%). CT alone was especially sensitive for lung metastases, FDG-PET alone for the remainder of the body. Accurate fusion of functional and morphologic data by FDG-PET/CT improves the staging accuracy of patients with suspected recurrence of iodine-negative DTC. This has an impact on patient management in a substantial number of patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Duisburg/Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122, Essen, Germany

    Lutz S. Freudenberg, Stefan P. Müller, Walter Jentzen & Andreas Bockisch

  2. Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Duisburg/Essen, Essen, Germany

    Andrea Frilling

  3. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University of Duisburg/Essen, Essen, Germany

    Hilmar Kühl & Gerald Antoch

Authors
  1. Lutz S. Freudenberg
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  2. Andrea Frilling
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  3. Hilmar Kühl
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  4. Stefan P. Müller
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  5. Walter Jentzen
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  6. Andreas Bockisch
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  7. Gerald Antoch
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Correspondence to Lutz S. Freudenberg.

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Freudenberg, L.S., Frilling, A., Kühl, H. et al. Dual-modality FDG-PET/CT in follow-up of patients with recurrent iodine-negative differentiated thyroid cancer. Eur Radiol 17, 3139–3147 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-007-0682-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-007-0682-2

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