Mediastinal images resembling thymus following 131-I treatment for thyroid cancer.
The follow-up of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer conventionally includes serum thyroglobulin and periodic Whole Body Scans. The uptake of 131-I in normal and pathological tissues different from metastatic thyroid cancer sites is a cause of false-positive scans. Among them, mediastinal uptake caused by thymic hyperplasia can be observed. The aim of the present study was to review a series of 573 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer treated with 131-I after surgery between 1992 and 2003 looking above all for those with mediastinal images resembling thymus. This evaluation is presented together with some hypotheses on the relationships between thymus and thyroid. Moreover, some considerations are made on the differential diagnosis between thymus and mediastinal tumour thyroid residues.
Montella
L
L
Medical Oncology Department, S. Giovanni di Dio Hospital, via Pirozzi, 80027 Frattaminore, Naples, Italy. lilianamontella@libero.it
Caraglia
M
M
Abbruzzese
A
A
Soricelli
A
A
Caputi
M
M
Squame
G
G
Salvatore
M
M
Del Prete
S
S
Palmieri
G
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery; D014915:Whole-Body Counting
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals