Technetium-99m sestamibi whole Body Scintigraphy in Postoperative Follow-up of Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma.
- Author:
Hong Kyu KIM
;
Eun Sook KIM
;
Young Ki SONG
;
Jin Sook RYU
;
Dae Hyuk MOON
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Differentiated thyroid carcinoma;
Technetium-99m sestamibi scan;
I whole scan;
Thyroglobulin
- MeSH:
Breast;
Diagnostic Imaging;
Follow-Up Studies*;
Humans;
Lung;
Lymph Nodes;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Neoplasm, Residual;
Radionuclide Imaging*;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi;
Thyroglobulin;
Thyroid Gland*;
Thyroid Neoplasms*;
Thyroidectomy;
Thyrotropin;
Whole Body Imaging
- From:Journal of Korean Society of Endocrinology
1998;13(4):572-579
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Recently technetium-99m sestamibi (99mTc MIBI), which dose not require withdrawal of thyroid hormone, has been used for imaging of thyroid carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical usefulness of Tc MIBI scintigraphy after total thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma. The results were compared with those of standard 131I scintigraphy. METHODS: One hundred twelve patients with a median age of 44 years (range, 14-76 years) were included in the study. After optimal endogenous thyroid stimulating hormone stimulation (>50 mIU/mL), whole body scintigraphy using 4 mCi of 'I and 20 mCi of Tc sestamibi were done simultaneously. Concomitantly serum thyroglobulin and anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels were checked. If abnormal findings on any of the scintigraphic methods or high levels of thyroglobulin (> 10ng/mL) were detected, diagnostic imaging studies were done to confirm the existence of the disease. And high dose (150-200 mCi) 'I was administered as therapy and then whole body scans were performed again after the therapy. The presence or absence of thyroid cancer was established by pathologic, radiologic, and/or high dose I scan findings. RESULTS: In 11 patients, Tc MIBI scan revealed positive accumulations which were not found on 131I scan, of whom 6 had elevated thyroglobulin levels. In these cases, 5 cases were interpreted to have normal thyroid remnant and 6 cases showed pathologic findings (2 lung, 1 lymph node, 1 lung and lymph node, 1 local recurrent cancer, and 1 false positive accumulation of 99mTc MIBI). Metastasis or residual cancer were confirmed histologically in 1 and radiologically in 4 cases. Negative 99mTc MIBI scans, despite of positive I scans, occurred in 9 patients, of whom 2 had abnormal thyroglobulin levels. Seven cases were interpreted to have thyroid remnant, 2 cases were confirmed to have lung metastasis, and another one was misinterpreted due to breast shadow. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these results suggest that 99mTc MIBI scan may have similar sensitivity and specificity for the detection of residual or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The 99mTc MIBI scan, especially in cases of negative 131I scan despite of abnormal thyroglobulin levels, can be used as a very useful complementary diagnostic tool.
