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Diagnosis of incidental thyroid nodules on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging: are these significant?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 December 2014

S D Sharma ,
T Jacques ,
S Smith  and
G Watters
S D Sharma*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southend Hospital, UK
T Jacques
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southend Hospital, UK
S Smith
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southend Hospital, UK
G Watters
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Southend Hospital, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Sunil D Sharma, Department of Otolaryngology, Southend Hospital, Prittlewell Chase, Southend-on-Sea SS0 0RY, UK Fax:, + 44 (0)1702 385856 E-mail: sunilsharma@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of thyroid malignancy in the first UK case series of patients with incidentally detected thyroid lesions on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging.

Methods:

A total of 235 patients were evaluated with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging. Incidental focal uptake in the thyroid gland was identified in nine patients (3.8 per cent). A retrospective review of their case notes was conducted.

Results:

The rate of malignancy was 55 per cent. The mean and standard deviation of the maximum standardised uptake value was 13.1 ± 7.3 in those patients with malignancy and a nodule identified as positive on positron emission tomography. This value was 2.8 ± 1.2 in those patients without malignancy but with a nodule identified as positive on positron emission tomography (p = 0.01). A palpable thyroid nodule was more likely in those with malignant lesions (p = 0.14).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of incidental thyroid lesions found on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in patients with other primary malignancies is low, but the incidence of malignancy in these patients is high. Patients with a palpable thyroid nodule, focal uptake on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography and an increased maximum standardised uptake value require further investigation.

Keywords

Thyroid NoduleEmission-Computed TomographyThyroid Cancer
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 1 , January 2015 , pp. 53 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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