title: Therapeutic impact of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) has proved effective in detecting recurrent or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in the follow-up of operated DTC patients with high thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and negative findings on radioiodine whole-body scan. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the impact of PET/CT on the planning of appropriate treatment for known recurrent disease in operated DTC patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study concerned 44 consecutive DTC patients (36 papillary, 8 follicular), who underwent total thyroidectomy and thyroid remnant ablation with (131)I and PET/CT. All patients had proven or strongly suspected recurrent disease judging from neck ultrasound (US) and fine-needle aspiration cytology, and detectable basal Tg levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PET/CT findings were positive in 25/44 patients (56.81 %) and negative in 19. A positive PET/CT result predicted resectable tumour recurrences in 19/25 patients, but also detected additional tumour sites that prompted changes to the treatment plan in 6/25 patients (24 %). A negative PET/CT result led to clinical monitoring for 11/19 patients (57.89 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PET/CT can help select patients, who might benefit from a tailored therapy by improving the detection of local recurrences not apparent on neck US or metastases.
authors.affiliation: Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS, Oncologic Radiology Unit, Via Gattamelata 64, 35128, Padua, Italy, fabio.pomerri@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pomerri
authors.forename: Anna Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Cervino
authors.forename: Faise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Al Bunni
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.forename: Pier Carlo
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Muzzio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18