title: Role of thallium-201 total-body scintigraphy in follow-up of thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: To evaluate the reliability of total-body scintigraphy using [201Tl]chloride in postoperative follow-up of thyroid carcinoma, this procedure was performed in 326 patients after total thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma. The results were compared with those of 131I scintigraphy and thyroglobulin assays. 201Tl total-body scintigraphy was found to have the greatest sensitivity (94%), whereas 131I scintigraphy had the highest specificity (99%). It is shown that 201Tl total-body scintigraphy is a useful procedure in follow-up of thyroid cancer, however, the combination of parameters provides the greatest reliability. In medullary thyroid carcinoma, which is usually 131I negative, 201Tl total-body scintigraphy can be of great value for the localization of metastases which are indicated by elevated serum levels of calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen.
mesh_terms: D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013793:Thallium; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011868:Radioisotopes; D002116:Calcitonin; D013793:Thallium