›› 2012, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (8): 1068-.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2012.08.022

• Original article (Clinical research) • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Application of 18F-FDG PET/CT in patients with negative findings in serum Tg measurement and 131I-whole body scan after ablation of remaining thyroid tissues for differentiated thyroid carcinoma

CHENG Wei-wei, WANG Hui, FENG Fang, FU Hong-liang, LI Jia-ning   

  1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
  • Online:2012-08-28 Published:2012-08-29
  • Supported by:

    Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project, S30203

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the application of 18F-FDG PET/CT in detection of tumor  recurrence and metastasis among patients with negative findings in serum thyroglobulin (Tg) measurement and 131I-whole body scan (131I-WBS) after total thyroidectomy and 131I ablation of the remaining thyroid tissues for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods Forty-one patients with DTC underwent total thyroidectomy and 131I ablation of the remaining thyroid tissues, and were followed up with serum Tg measurement, 131I-WBS, neck ultrasound, chest CT and whole body 18F-FDG PET/CT. Results All these 41 patients had negative findings in serum Tg measurement and 131I-WBS, while abnormal lesions were detected by neck ultrasound or chest CT. Twenty-three patients had positive findings in 18F-FDG PET/CT, 3 of whom were confirmed as thyroid carcinoma metastases by pathological examinations. There was no significant difference between the size of 18F-FDG PET/CT positive lesions and that of 18F-FDG PET/CT negative lesions. Conclusion 18F-FDG PET/CT may demonstrate suspicious positive lesions in patients with negative findings in serum Tg measurement and 131I-WBS after total thyroidectomy and 131I ablation of the remaining thyroid tissues for DTC, which may help in the detection of tumor recurrence and metastasis.

Key words: differentiated thyroid carcinoma, 131I whole body scan, serum thyroglobulin, 18F-FDG