title: Role of isotope scan, including positron emission tomography/computed tomography, in nodular goitre.
abstract: Nuclear medicine techniques were first used in clinical practice for diagnosing and treating thyroid diseases in the 1950s, and are still an integral part of thyroid nodules work-up. Thyroid imaging with iodine or iodine-analogue isotopes is the only examination able to prove the presence of autonomously functioning thyroid tissue, which excludes malignancy with a high probability. In addition, a thyroid scan with technetium-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile is able to avoid unnecessary surgical procedures for cytologically inconclusive thyroid nodules, as confirmed by meta-analysis and cost-effectiveness studies. Finally, positron emission tomography alone, and positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography scans with (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose are also promising for diagnosing thyroid diseases, but further studies are needed before introducing them to clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland; EOC Competence Centre for Thyroid Diseases, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland. Electronic address: luca.giovanella@eoc.ch.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giovanella
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland; EOC Competence Centre for Thyroid Diseases, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ceriani
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT Centre, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland; EOC Competence Centre for Thyroid Diseases, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Treglia
mesh_terms: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D057054:Molecular Imaging / Q000379:methods; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D013667:Technetium; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011849:Radioactive Tracers; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D013667:Technetium
keywords: nodular goitre; nuclear medicine; positron emission tomography; scintigraphy