title: [PET in thyroid cancers].
abstract: FDG PET can detect thyroid cancer in patients referred for exploration of a different cancer. Because of its lack of specificity, however, this modality is not indicated for examination of thyroid nodules: ultrasonography and fine needle biopsy with cytology allow histological diagnosis, which can be completed by iodine-123 scintigraphy when an autonomous nodule is suspected. No information is currently available about the utility of FDG PET in preoperative staging. In follow-up of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for adenocarcinoma, FDG PET is useful for detecting recurrence in cases where serum thyroglobulin levels rise and iodine-131 scintigraphy is negative: surgical resection may be appropriate. Nonetheless FDG PET should be performed more widely and earlier: the initial presence of foci positive for FDG is a major predictor of shorter survival, and most cancer lesions take up either iodine or FDG. In follow-up of medullary carcinoma, FDG PET detects residual tissue better than any other scintigraphic procedures, especially when serum levels of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) are rising rapidly. FDOPA PET seems to have better sensitivity than FDG-PET and may be useful in occult recurrence, as three case reports indicate.
authors.affiliation: Service de Médecine Nucléaire, Hôpital Tenon, AP-HP; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris. jean-noel.talbot@tnn.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Jean-Noël
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montravers
authors.forename: Nassima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Younsi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanotti-Fregonara
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zanotti
authors.forename: Dany
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grahek
authors.forename: Khaldoun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kerrou
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gutman
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Périé
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maurel
authors.forename: Jean Lacau
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Saint Guily
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Devaux
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Duron
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D018276:Carcinoma, Medullary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18