Risk of malignancy in thyroid incidentalomas identified by fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography.
BACKGROUND
Thyroid tumors often exhibit increased metabolic activity, as evidenced by enhanced glucose uptake on positron emission tomography (PET) with use of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). The incidence of new thyroid lesions found on routine FDG-PET has not been previously reported.


METHODS
A retrospective review of all patients who underwent FDG-PET imaging at our institution from June 1, 1996, through March 15, 2001, identified patients with a newly diagnosed thyroid lesion. Thyroid incidentaloma was defined as a thyroid lesion seen initially on FDG-PET in a patient without a history of thyroid disease. Available follow-up data were documented.


RESULTS
One hundred and two of 4525 FDG-PET examinations (2.3%) demonstrated thyroid incidentalomas. Eighty-seven of 102 patients had no thyroid histology because of other malignancies. Fifteen patients had thyroid biopsy: 7 (47%) with thyroid cancer, 6 (40%) with nodular hyperplasia, 1 with thyroiditis, and 1 with atypical cells of indeterminate origin. The average standardized uptake values were higher for malignant compared with benign lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Thyroid incidentaloma identified by FDG-PET occurred with a frequency of 2.3%. Of the thyroid incidentalomas that underwent biopsy, 47% were found to be malignant. Given the risk of malignancy, patients with new thyroid lesions on PET scan should have a tissue diagnosis if it will influence outcome and management. Standardized uptake values may be helpful in predicting benign versus malignant histology.
Cohen
M S
MS
Department of Surgery, the Siteman Cancer Center, and the Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Arslan
N
N
Dehdashti
F
F
Doherty
G M
GM
Lairmore
T C
TC
Brunt
L M
LM
Moley
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18