Comparison of 131I whole-body imaging, 131I SPECT/CT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the detection of metastatic thyroid cancer

Abstract

Both SPECT/CT and PET/CT demonstrated high diagnostic performance in detecting metastatic thyroid cancer. SPECT/CT was highly accurate in patients who underwent a single challenge of radioiodine therapy. In contrast, (18)F-FDG PET/CT presented the highest diagnostic performance in patients who underwent multiple challenges of radioiodine therapy.

SPET–CT in thyroid cancer: a systematic review

“…In a retrospective study of 140 patients suspected of having metastatic disease based on imaging and serum thyroglobulin, Oh and colleagues reported a sensitivity of 65 % and a specificity of 95 % for I-131 SPET-CT, similar to the values for 18 F-FDG PET and higher than those of whole-body I-131 planar scans [43]. In this investigation, I-131 SPET-CT outperformed 18 F-FDG PET after a single I-131 treatment, while the sensitivity of 18 F-FDG PET was better than that of I-131 SPET-CT in patients after multiple radioiodine treatments [43]. Imaging with I-131 SPET-CT and 18 F-FDG PET provides complementary diagnostic information that assists in the management of patients with WDTC and should be ordered on the basis of the specific clinical situation.…”

Post-Therapeutic I-131 Whole Body Scan in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

“…In addition, diagnostic accuracy of RxWBS is related to the past-history of previous I-131 therapy. Oh et al reported the sensitivity of RxWBS in detecting distant metastasis after first I-131 therapy is 75% (Oh et al, 2011). In contrast, in patients with history of multiple radioiodine therapy, sensitivity of RxWBS in detecting distant metastasis is only 35%.…”

“…Ho-Chun Song and Ari Chong (2011). Post-Therapeutic I-131 Whole Body Scan in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer, 12 Chapters on Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Ali Gholamrezanezhad (Ed.…”

Physiologic and False Positive Pathologic Uptakes on Radioiodine Whole Body Scan

“…(Spanu, Solinas et al 2009) Therefore, the sensitivity and specificity of planar images for the diagnosis of metastatic thyroid cancer may be limited. (Oh, Byun et al 2011) …”

“…(Spanu, Solinas et al 2009) Despite its many advantages, SPECT/CT cannot be applied for routine use or whole body imaging due to the long scanning time and the additional radiation burden, and so the fusion image should be selected on a personalized basis for those who clinically need the imaging. (Oh, Byun et al 2011) …”