FDG PET and alternative imaging in the management of thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid are one of rare malignancies that is associated with excellent prognosis. Follow-up with regular thyroglobulin assay and ¹³¹I whole-body scan is capable of detecting residual or recurrent disease with great sensitivity and specificity. However, there is overwhelming evidence to suggest that this approach is not fail-safe due to increasing reports of false negative and false positive results, which may result in missed or unwarranted therapy with ¹³¹I. This article will review the current management of differentiated carcinoma of the thyroid and the possible causes of the reported inadequacy of thyroglobulin and ¹³¹I whole-body scan to detect residual or recurrent disease, and the increasing role of alternative imaging, particularly ¹⁸F-FDG PET in the management of this curable malignancy.