Metastatic follicular carcinoma of the thyroid: reappearance of radioiodine uptake.
Dedifferentiation of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma is a well-known phenomenon that may lead to the disappearance of radioiodine uptake in tumors and the inability to treat patients with radioiodine. We report a patient in whom the 131I uptake progressively diminished to such low levels after a cumulative dose of 31.5 GBq that further 131I administration was considered nonbeneficial. Thereafter, metastases in the lungs and skeleton progressed. Because of the absence of any other therapeutic options, nearly 2 yr later we decided to reperform 131I measurements and scanning under hypothyroid conditions. All known metastatic lesions this time showed intense 131I uptake, more than 10-fold the previously measured values. High-dose 131I treatment was restarted.
Oyen
W J
WJ
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Mudde
A H
AH
van den Broek
W J
WJ
Corstens
F H
FH
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013997:Time Factors
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes