Combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging of recurrent thyroid cancer.

Abstract

The study goal was to evaluate the use of combined positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging for localization of recurrent disease in thyroid cancer patients. Eight patients with suspected recurrence of thyroid cancer on the basis of elevated serum thyroglobulin or calcitonin levels underwent combined PET/CT imaging on a prototype device. All 8 patients had previously undergone total thyroidectomy and (131)I ablation for thyroid carcinoma. Patients with papillary carcinoma had negative (131)I scans. Eight patients underwent combined PET/CT scanning. Four (50%) of 8 patients underwent PET/CT indicating recurrence in the head and neck. A total of 11 lesions in these 4 patients were suspicious for recurrence on combined PET/CT imaging. Three patients with 8 lesions suspicious for recurrence on PET/CT underwent surgical removal of disease. All 3 patients had pathologic confirmation of recurrence, with 6 (75.0%) of 8 lesions being positive. Combined PET/CT imaging is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and anatomic localization of recurrent thyroid cancer.