Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy before and after potassium perchlorate administration for the diagnosis of retrosternal goiter.
A 52-year-old woman was hospitalized because of dyspnea and dysphagia. Thoracic computed tomography revealed a retrotracheal mass. Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy showed intense accumulation of radioactivity corresponding to the mediastinal mass detected by computed tomography. Repeated Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy performed after oral administration of potassium perchlorate (KCLO4) revealed complete disappearance of the radioactive accumulation in the mediastinum, suggesting that the retrotracheal mass was a retrosternal goiter. Subsequent surgical removal and analysis of the mass showed it was indeed a retrosternal goiter. This case highlights the importance of Tc-99m pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy with and without KCLO4 administration as a simple, accurate, and cost-effective imaging method to diagnose retrosternal goiter.
Aydin
M
M
Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey. mehmetaydin@mailcity.com
Emri
S
S
Caner
B
B
D000284:Administration, Oral; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006045:Goiter, Substernal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010472:Perchlorates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017680:Potassium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D010472:Perchlorates; D017680:Potassium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C009006:potassium perchlorate; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m