title: Preoperative scintigraphic visualization of lymph nodes and pulmonary metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: Preoperative accumulation of Tc-99m pertechnetate and radioiodine in metastases of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma is uncommon. We report herein the case of a 39-year-old woman with occult papillary thyroid cancer revealed by widespread miliary lung metastases. Ultrasonography revealed the presence of an infracentimetric hypoechoic nodule and cervical lymph nodes. Scintigraphy, realized with Tc-99m pertechnetate and I-131 prior to thyroidectomy, failed to delineate the primary thyroid tumor, but revealed functional cervical nodes on the central and left lateral compartments, with pulmonary accumulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Sahloul's Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia. BOUGHATTASSAMI@netscape.net
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boughattas
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hassine
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arifa
authors.forename: Kaouther
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chatti
authors.forename: Maryem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Degdegui
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abdelkefi
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Essabbah
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m