Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of 124I positron emission tomography (PET) using a combined PET/CT tomograph in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma and to compare the PET/CT results with 131I 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, 124I-PET, and combined 124I-PET/CT imaging, respectively. Lesion delectability of 131I-WBS was 83%. We conclude that 124I-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.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank G. Hüdepohl for producing the radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. Further, we are indebted to S. Pabst, B. Terschüren, A. Colakovic and S. Heistrüvers for their assistance with the data acquisition.
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Freudenberg, L.S., Antoch, G., Jentzen, W. et al. Value of 124I-PET/CT in staging of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Eur Radiol 14, 2092–2098 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2350-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2350-0