Value of (124)I-PET/CT in staging of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer

Eur Radiol. 2004 Nov;14(11):2092-8. doi: 10.1007/s00330-004-2350-0. Epub 2004 Jun 30.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of (124)I positron emission tomography (PET) using a combined PET/CT tomograph in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and to compare the PET/CT results with (131)I whole-body scintigraphy (WBS), dedicated PET and CT alone. Twelve thyroid cancer patients were referred for diagnostic workup and entered complete clinical evaluation, including histology, cytology, thyroglobulin level, ultrasonography, fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET, FDG-PET/CT and CT. Lesion-based evaluation showed a lesion delectability of 56, 87 and 100% for CT, (124)I-PET, and combined (124)I-PET/CT imaging, respectively. Lesion delectability of (131)I-WBS was 83%. We conclude that (124)I-PET/CT imaging is a promising technique to improve treatment planning in thyroid cancer. It is particularly valuable in patients suffering from advanced differentiated thyroid cancer prior to radio-iodine therapy and in patients with suspected recurrence and potential metastatic disease.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma / classification
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Lymph Nodes / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Thyroid Gland / diagnostic imaging*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / classification
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes