title: Extrathyroidal uptake from thyroid carcinoma on 99mTc-pertechnetate scintigraphy.
abstract: Three cases of imaging with 99mTc-pertechnetate (99mTcO4) and unusual positive lymph node uptake in the neck are reported hereby. Two cases were later diagnosed to be well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma, (DTC) with nodal metastasis. The third was a confirmed case of carcinoma thyroid that had presented with mass in the neck soon after surgery, being prepared for ablative dose of radioactive iodine (131I). All three were young females under 40 years of age. These 3 cases signify that extra thyroidal areas of uptake on a routine thyroid scan with 99mTcO4 can some time be due to thyroid carcinoma with regional metastases. Foci of metastasis in patients with DTC may be incidentlly detected with 99mTcO4 scan. Multinodular goiter with palpable lymph node should always be investigated for exclusion of malignancy. The patients underwent near total thyroidectomy and radical neck dissection; histopathology confirmed the scan findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine (IRNUM), University Campus, Peshawar. drsami_k@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sami U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Aakif U
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Ayub
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Abdul Saeed
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m