Detection of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma: computed tomography versus positron emission tomography-computed tomography.
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.
Lee
Dong Hoon
DH
Department of Radiology, Clinical Research Institute, and daggerDepartment of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kang
Won Jun
WJ
Seo
Hyung Suk
HS
Kim
Eunhee
E
Kim
Ji Hoon
JH
Son
Kyu-Ri
KR
Na
Dong Gyu
DG
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