Imaging modalities in the follow-up of non-iodine avid thyroid carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
The treatment of primary thyroid cancer requires protracted follow-up because of to the possibility of the development of recurrent metastases many years after the initial diagnosis. Often such follow-up involves imaging at regular intervals with diagnostic I-131 studies. However, not all thyroid cancer concentrates I-131. The purpose of this article is to review the efficacy of alternative diagnostic imaging modalities for follow-up of thyroid carcinomas that do not concentrate radioiodine.


METHODS
These procedures include the use of nuclear medicine imaging with thallium-201 (TI-201), Tc-99m-sestamibi, Tc-99m pentavalent dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), radiolabeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibodies, and radioiodinated-131 meta-iodobenzyl guanidine, as well as computerized x-ray tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US).


CONCLUSIONS
Thallium-201, MRI, and pentavalent DMSA provide adequate sensitivity for follow-up of selected patients with suspected recurrent noniodine concentrating thyroid carcinoma.
Mallin
W H
WH
Department of Radiology, Eugene L. Saenger Radioisotope Laboratory, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, OH 45267-0577.
Elgazzar
A H
AH
Maxon
H R
HR
D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007462:Iodobenzenes; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D016719:Radioimmunodetection; D004113:Succimer; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D013793:Thallium; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D007462:Iodobenzenes; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D019797:3-Iodobenzylguanidine; C027549:thallium chloride; D019783:Technetium Tc 99m Dimercaptosuccinic Acid; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D013793:Thallium; D004113:Succimer