Tomographic imaging of the human thyroid using 124I.
After receiving between 100 and 300 mu Ci of the positron-emitting radioisotope 124I (half-life, 4.2 days), 64 patients with a variety of thyroid disorders were imaged with a high resolution positron camera. A 3-dimensional image of the distribution of radioiodine uptake within the thyroid was obtained from a single 10- to 15-min scan. This image may be viewed as a sequence of 2-mm thick transverse, sagittal, or frontal sections or as a 3-dimensional shaded surface. The functional volume of the thyroid may be estimated by counting the volume elements (voxels) inside the thyroid surface. The precision of the estimate varied from 6-15%, depending on the size and clinical status of the thyroid. The volume estimation procedure was validated with phantoms and with the thyroids of patients who subsequently underwent partial thyroidectomy. This 3-dimensional imaging technique may be useful for diagnosis and management of thyroid diseases.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006042:Goiter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes