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Basso C, Colapinto A, Vicennati V, Gambineri A, Pelusi C, Di Dalmazi G, Rizzini EL, Tabacchi E, Golemi A, Calderoni L, Fanti S, Pagotto U, Repaci A. Radioiodine whole body scan pitfalls in differentiated thyroid cancer. Endocrine 2024:10.1007/s12020-024-03754-y. [PMID: 38498129 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03754-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE whole body scan (WBS) performed following diagnostic or therapeutic administration of I-131 is useful in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. However, it can be falsely positive in various circumstances. We aimed to report a series of pitfalls in a clinical perspective. METHODS A search in the database PubMed utilizing the following terms: "false radioiodine uptake" and "false positive iodine 131 scan" has been made in January 2023. Among the 346 studies screened, 230 were included in this review, with a total of 370 cases collected. Physiological uptakes were excluded. For each patient, sex, age, dose of I-131 administered, region and specific organ of uptake and cause of false uptake were evaluated. RESULTS 370 cases of false radioiodine uptake were reported, 19.1% in the head-neck region, 34.2% in the chest, 14.8% in the abdomen, 20.8% in the pelvis, and 11.1% in the soft tissues and skeletal system. The origin of false radioiodine uptake was referred to non-tumoral diseases in 205/370 cases (55.1%), benign tumors in 108/370 cases (29.5%), malignant tumors in 25/370 cases (6.7%), and other causes in 32/370 cases (8.7%). CONCLUSIONS WBS is useful in the follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, however it can be falsely positive in various circumstances. For this reason, it is critically important to correlate the scintigraphic result with patient's medical history, serum thyroglobulin levels, additional imaging studies and cytologic and/or histologic result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Basso
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Colapinto
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Vicennati
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gambineri
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Carla Pelusi
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Guido Di Dalmazi
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elisa Lodi Rizzini
- Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Tabacchi
- Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Arber Golemi
- Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Letizia Calderoni
- Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefano Fanti
- Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Uberto Pagotto
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Repaci
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Prevention and Care, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
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Buton L, Morel O, Gault P, Illouz F, Rodien P, Rohmer V. False-positive Iodine-131 whole-body scan findings in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma: Report of 11 cases and review of the literature. ANNALES D'ENDOCRINOLOGIE 2013; 74:221-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ando.2013.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Revised: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Carlisle MR, Lu C, McDougall IR. The interpretation of 131I scans in the evaluation of thyroid cancer, with an emphasis on false positive findings. Nucl Med Commun 2003; 24:715-35. [PMID: 12766609 DOI: 10.1097/00006231-200306000-00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Radioiodine has aided the management of differentiated thyroid cancer for several decades. Most thyroid cancers retain the ability to trap iodine, and radionuclides of iodine can be used both diagnostically and therapeutically. The availability of sensitive diagnostic tests, coupled with the ability to deliver targeted therapy, gives physicians the ability to manage thyroid cancer better than with any other type of cancer. The correct interpretation of radioiodine scans is critical in the appropriate management of patients with thyroid cancer. False positive findings do occur. A radioiodine scan showing abnormal uptake outside the thyroid bed must be studied carefully and alternative reasons for the finding must be considered. The scan should be analysed systematically. Is there residual thyroid? If so, what is the 48 or 72 h neck uptake? Radioiodine uptake in the salivary glands, stomach, gastrointestinal and urinary tracts should be acknowledged as physiological. Diffuse uptake is seen in the liver in most patients with functioning thyroid at the time of their post-therapy scan. When there is uptake of the radioiodine outside these regions, contamination must be considered. A variety of cases illustrating true positive, true negative, and false positive findings is presented in this review, and the causes and consequences of misinterpretation of radioiodine scans are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Carlisle
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Stanford University Medical Center, California 94305, USA
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