title: Unusual false-positive radioiodine whole-body scans in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: Radioiodine whole-body imaging is the most accurate method in the diagnosis of metastases from differentiated thyroid cancer. However, false-positive images rarely occur. The authors report unusual cases of thymic hyperplasia and post-traumatic skull changes mimicking mediastinal, skull, or cerebral metastases. Nonthyroidal causes were diagnosed by other radionuclide studies (bone and brain scintigraphy) and CT scans. Follow-up and undetectable thyroglobulin levels helped confirm the benign cause.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvatori
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Saletnich
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rufini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Troncone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000032:analysis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013954:Thyroglobulin