title: Detection of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma: computed tomography versus positron emission tomography-computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is more accurate than CT for detecting metastatic cervical lymph nodes in recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to determine the relationship between the CT features and PET-CT findings of metastatic nodes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven consecutive patients with recurrent PTC underwent contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) and PET-CT before surgery. We retrospectively evaluated CECT and PET-CT images to determine the presence of metastatic nodes by level-by-level analysis. The CT findings of the PET-CT results that were positive and negative for metastatic nodes were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metastatic nodes were found at 28 (78%) of 36 neck levels surgically explored. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CECT for the detection of metastatic nodes were 75.0%, 87.5%, and 77.8%, respectively, and those of PET-CT were 35.7%, 87.5%, and 48.6%, respectively, by level-by-level analysis. No significant difference in the CT features was found between the PET-CT findings positive and negative for metastatic nodes (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computed tomography is more sensitive and accurate than PET-CT for detecting metastatic lymph nodes in recurrent PTC. No significant relationship was found between the CT features and the PET-CT findings of the metastatic nodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Clinical Research Institute, and daggerDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Hyung Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Eunhee
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu-Ri
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Dong Gyu
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Na
mesh_terms: D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed