scholarly journals The Diagnostic Usefulness of 131I-SPECT/CT at Both Radioiodine Ablation and during Long-Term Follow-Up in Patients Thyroidectomized for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Analysis of Tissue Risk Factors Ascertained at Surgery and Correlated with Metastasis Appearance

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1504
Author(s):  
Angela Spanu ◽  
Susanna Nuvoli ◽  
Andrea Marongiu ◽  
Ilaria Gelo ◽  
Luciana Mele ◽  
...  

131I Single-photon emission computerized tomography/computerized tomography (SPECT/CT) in the management of patients thyroidectomized for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) was further investigated. Retrospectively, 106 consecutive DTC patients were enrolled at the first radioiodine ablation, 24 at high risk (H), 61 at low risk (L) and 21 at very low risk (VL). 131I whole-body scan (WBS) and SPECT/CT were performed after therapeutic doses using a hybrid dual-head gamma camera. At ablation, SPECT/CT correctly classified 49 metastases in 17/106 patients with a significantly (p < 0.001) more elevated number than WBS which evidenced 32/49 foci in 13/17 cases. In this case, 86/106 patients could be monitored in the follow-up including 13/17 cases with metastases already at post-therapeutic scans. SPECT/CT after radioiodine diagnostic doses more correctly than WBS ascertained disease progression in 4/13 patients, stable disease in other 4/13 cases and disease improvement in the remaining 5/13 cases. Further 13/86 patients with only residues at post-therapeutic scans showed at SPECT/CT 16 neck lymph node (LN) metastases, three unclear and 13 occult at WBS. Significant involvement of some tissue risk factors with metastasis appearance was observed, such as minimal extrathyroid tumor extension and neck LN metastases. These risk factors should be carefully considered in DTC patient follow-up where 131I-SPECT/CT routinely use is suggested as a support tool of WBS.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Spanu ◽  
Susanna Nuvoli ◽  
Andrea Marongiu ◽  
Ilaria Gelo ◽  
Luciana Mele ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The prognostic importance of neck lymph node (LN) metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is controversial even if their presence at surgery often correlates with tumor recurrences that it is mandatory to identify. To this purpose, in the present study, we used 131 I-SPECT/CT as diagnostic imaging procedure. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 224 consecutive DTC patients already submitted to total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy, all of them with ascertained neck radioiodine-avid foci at ¹³¹I-SPECT/CT during long-term follow-up; at surgery, 62 patients were classified at high risk (H), 64 at low risk (L), 98 at very low risk. All patients underwent ¹³¹I-Whole body scan (WBS) followed by SPECT/CT. Result: In the 224 patients, 449 neck iodine avid foci were ascertained at SPECT/CT, while 322 were evidenced at WBS in 165/224 patients. WBS classified as residues 263/322 foci and as unclear 59/322 foci; among the former foci SPECT/CT correctly characterized 8 LN metastases and 3 physiologic uptakes and among the latter it pinpointed 26 LN metastases, 18 residues and 15 physiologic uptakes. SPECT/CT also classified 127 foci occult at WBS as 59 LN metastases and 68 residues. Globally, SPECT/CT identified 93 LN metastases in 59 patients (26 H, 20 L, 13 VL), while WBS evidenced 34 in 25 cases. All 13 VL patients,T1aN0M0, 5 of whom with LN near sub-mandibular glands, had thyroglobulin undetectable or <2.5 ng/ml. Globally, SPECT/CT obtained an incremental value than WBS in 45.5 % of patients, a more correct patient classification changing therapeutic approach in 30.3 % of cases and identified WBS false positive findings in 8% of cases. Conclusion: ¹³¹I-SPECT/CT proved to correctly detect and characterize neck LN metastases in DTC patients in long-term follow-up, improving WBS performance. SPECT/CT routine use is suggested, its role being particularly significant in patients with WBS inconclusive, VL, T1aN0M0 and with undetectable or very low thyroglobulin levels.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Spanu ◽  
Susanna Nuvoli ◽  
Andrea Marongiu ◽  
Ilaria Gelo ◽  
Luciana Mele ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The identification of neck lymph node (LN) metastases represents a very important issue in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). To this purpose, in the present study, we used 131I-SPECT/CT as a diagnostic imaging procedure. Methods: A consecutive series of 224 DTC patients with ascertained neck radioiodine-avid foci at ¹³¹I-SPECT/CT during long-term follow-up was evaluated. All patients had already undergone total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy and had been classified as follows: 62 at high risk (H), 64 at low risk (L) and 98 at very low risk (VL). ¹³¹I-Whole body scan (WBS) followed by SPECT/CT was performed in all cases. Results: In the 224 patients, 449 neck iodine avid foci were ascertained at SPECT/CT, while 322 were evidenced at WBS in 165/224 patients. WBS classified as residues 263/322 foci and as unclear 59/322 foci; among the former foci SPECT/CT correctly characterized 8 LN metastases and 3 physiologic uptakes and among the latter, it pinpointed 26 LN metastases, 18 residues, and 15 physiologic uptakes. SPECT/CT also classified 127 foci occult at WBS as 59 LN metastases and 68 residues. Globally, SPECT/CT identified 93 LN metastases in 59 patients (26 H, 20 L, 13 VL), while WBS evidenced 34 in 25 cases. All 13 VL patients, T1aN0M0, 5 of whom with LN near sub-mandibular glands, had thyroglobulin undetectable or <2.5 ng/ml. Globally, SPECT/CT obtained an incremental value than WBS in 45.5 % of patients, a more correct patient classification changing therapeutic approach in 30.3 % of cases and identified WBS false-positive findings in 8% of cases. Conclusions: ¹³¹I-SPECT/CT proved to correctly detect and characterize neck LN metastases in DTC patients in long-term follow-up, improving the performance of planar WBS. SPECT/CT routine use is thus suggested; its role is particularly relevant in patients with WBS inconclusive, VL, T1aN0M0 and with undetectable or very low thyroglobulin levels. Keywords: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), Neck lymph node metastases, Long-term follow-up, 131I-Whole body scan (WBS), 131I-SPECT/CT


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Spanu ◽  
Susanna Nuvoli ◽  
Andrea Marongiu ◽  
Ilaria Gelo ◽  
Luciana Mele ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The prognostic importance of neck lymph node (LN) metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) is controversial even if their presence at surgery often correlates with tumor recurrences that it is mandatory to identify. To this purpose, in the present study, we used 131I-SPECT/CT as a diagnostic imaging procedure. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 224 consecutive DTC patients already submitted to total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy, all of them with ascertained neck radioiodine-avid foci at ¹³¹I-SPECT/CT during long-term follow-up; at surgery, 62 patients were classified at high risk (H), 64 at low risk (L) and 98 at very low risk (VL). All patients underwent ¹³¹I-Whole body scan (WBS) followed by SPECT/CT. Results: In the 224 patients, 449 neck iodine avid foci were ascertained at SPECT/CT, while 322 were evidenced at WBS in 165/224 patients. WBS classified as residues 263/322 foci and as unclear 59/322 foci; among the former foci SPECT/CT correctly characterized 8 LN metastases and 3 physiologic uptakes and among the latter, it pinpointed 26 LN metastases, 18 residues, and 15 physiologic uptakes. SPECT/CT also classified 127 foci occult at WBS as 59 LN metastases and 68 residues. Globally, SPECT/CT identified 93 LN metastases in 59 patients (26 H, 20 L, 13 VL), while WBS evidenced 34 in 25 cases. All 13 VL patients, T1aN0M0, 5 of whom with LN near sub-mandibular glands, had thyroglobulin undetectable or <2.5 ng/ml. Globally, SPECT/CT obtained an incremental value than WBS in 45.5 % of patients, a more correct patient classification changing therapeutic approach in 30.3 % of cases and identified WBS false-positive findings in 8% of cases. Conclusions: ¹³¹I-SPECT/CT proved to correctly detect and characterize neck LN metastases in DTC patients in long-term follow-up, improving WBS performance. SPECT/CT routine use is suggested; its role is particularly significant in patients with WBS inconclusive, VL, T1aN0M0 and with undetectable or very low thyroglobulin levels. Keywords: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), Neck lymph node metastases, Long-term follow-up, 131I-Whole body scan (WBS), 131I-SPECT/CT


2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Faria Nasreen ◽  
Nurun Nahar ◽  
Sadia Sultana

<p><strong><em>Background:</em></strong> Thyroid carcinoma is rare in childhood and adolescence. The presentation is more advanced in case of children as compared to adults. However, the prognosis for survival in children is reportedly excellent. The aim of the study was to see the outcome of patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma during childhood and adolescence treated at a single institute.</p><p><strong><em>Patients and methods:</em></strong> A retrospective study of 61 children and adolescent patients (age ≤18years) with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) enrolled in the National Institute of Nuclear Medicine and Allied Sciences, Dhaka during the period of  January1986  up to December 2007 was carried out. To allow for a theoretical follow up of at least 5 years the last inclusion year was 2007 and follow up was carried on up to June 2013. All patients were treated by thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine ablation therapy. Whole body scans, Tg, anti Tg Ab and neck ultrasound findings were recorded six months to one year after initial therapy to classify patients into remission, persistent or recurrent disease. Status on last follow up was noted to estimate the survival rate.</p><p><strong><em>Results:</em></strong> A total of 40 patients had papillary carcinoma, 18 had follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (FVPCT) and three had follicular carcinoma. Age range at diagnosis was nine to 18 years with a mean of 15± 2 years. The number of patients ≤10 years were five and &gt; 10 years were 56. There were 12 males and 49 females giving a M: F ratio of about 1:4. Among the 61 patients 30 patients had lymph node metastases and two had both nodal and lung metastases at initial presentation. After one year follow up from the initial radioiodine therapy, 30 patients were in remission and 31 patients had persistent disease. Eventually recurrence occurred in five patients. Three patients died during the whole observation period and all of them were cancer related giving a cancer specific mortality ratio of 0.049%, 95% CI 0 to 0.105%. Cancer specific survival by Kaplan-Meier curve was 98.2%, 98.2% and 66% at 5, 10 and 15 years respectively.</p><p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong> DTC in children and adolescent has a good prognosis in the presence of neck and distant metastases. Awareness of the patient and regular follow up with life long surveillance is essential to obtain a favorable outcome.</p><p>Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 20(2): 99-104, July 2017</p>


1985 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Välimäki ◽  
Bror-Axel Lamberg

Abstract. Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) was measured in 52 patients 3 months to 15 years (mean 5.3 years) after thyroidectomy with or without subsequent radioablation for differentiated thyroid carcinoma, before and after the interruption of suppressive thyroxine (T4) replacement therapy for 5 weeks. Whole body scintigraphy was carried out at the end of the T4 withdrawal period. Serum Tg was undetectable (< 3 μg/l) in 38 patients on T4 therapy, in 18 the scintigraphy showed a minimal accumulation in the neck region and in 20 no uptake anywhere after withdrawal of T4. In the former group Tg rose in 10 patients to 4–21 μg/l when off T4 which seemed to correspond to the normal tissue left in situ, in the latter group Tg rose only in 2 patients to 5 and 21 μg/l, respectively. Two patients out of 14 with detectable Tg on T4 had pulmonary metastases as uncovered by whole body scintigraphy (in one of them Tg rose from 12 μg/l on T4 to 1200 μg/l off T4) and 6 patients were suspected for having recidual cancer tissue (2 patients had a negative scintigraphy) because the Tg rose (66– 215 μg/l) over the upper limit of the reference range (< 50 μg/l) after T4 withdrawal. In conclusion, in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma no routine scans are needed as long as serum Tg remains undetectable but further examinations are shortly warranted when detectable Tg is obtained during T4 suppression.


2000 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 443-446 ◽  
Author(s):  
PAULO ALMEIDA-FILHO ◽  
GREGORY C. RAVIZZINI ◽  
CRISTIANA ALMEIDA ◽  
SALVADOR BORGES-NETO

1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (06) ◽  
pp. 230-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Kresnik ◽  
P. Mikosch ◽  
W. Pipam ◽  
Iris Gomez ◽  
P. Lind ◽  
...  

Summary Aim: The usefulness of the myocardial perfusion agent, Tc-99m-tetrofosmin (Myoview®) in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma was evaluated in a clinical study of 15 patients, primary treated with thyroidectomy and high-dose I-131-therapy (2960-3700 MBq), 12 with suspected recurrence and metastases and three patients without any suspicion and compared with other non-specific tracers like TI-201 and Tc-99m-sestamibi. Method: Twelve patients with elevated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels of more than 10 ng/ml (group A), four of these had negative I-131 scans, and three patients with Tg levels less than 10 ng/ml (group B) were examined under TSH suppressive L-Thyroxine treatment. Whole body scans were taken with TI-201 (74 MBq; 20 min post injection), Tc-99m-sestamibi (370 MBq; 20-60 min post injection) and Tc-99m-tetrofosmin (370 MBq; 20-60 min post injection). Tumor/background ratios and optional time/activity analyses (up to 150 min post injection) were evaluated using the region of interest approach. Results: Compared with TI-201 (T/BG: 1.59, ± 0.396), Tc-99m-tetrofosmin showed slightly but not significant better T/BG ratios and detection rates (T/BG: 1.76, ± 0.345).Tc-99m-sestamibi (1.51, ± 0.31 p = 0.05) showea significantly lower values than Tc-99m-tetrofosmin. Conclusion: In the light of these results, scintigraphy with Tc-99m-tetrofosmin seems to be a possibly sensitive imaging modality in the follow-up of DTC with possible advantages concerning T/Bg ratio, background clearance, detection rate and dosimetry compared with TI-201 and Tc-99m-sestamibi, especially in patients with elevated Tg level and no iodine uptake , but further investigations are needed to confirm our preliminary results.


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