Intense 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by the thymus on PET scan does not necessarily herald recurrence of thyroid carcinoma.
(2005) Journal of Endocrinological Investigation — Vol. 28, n° 2, p. 1024-1028 (2005)
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- Abstract
- This is the first report of intense fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) uptake secondary to thymic hyperplasia during follow-up for thyroid carcinoma. A 36-yr-old woman underwent thyroidectomy for a papillary carcinoma measuring 4 cm in diameter. After two doses of radioiodine, thyroglobulin (Tg) remained detectable following recombinant human TSH (rhTSH) stimulation. A whole body scan (WBS) was negative. On computed tomography (CT) scan, a slightly lobulated thymus was visualized. PET scan showed intense thymic uptake. Following resection, anatomo-pathological analysis showed homogenous hyperplastic thymic gland without neoplastic cells. Two months later, under levothyroxin (L-T4) substitution, Tg was no longer detectable and PET scanning did not show any 18-FDG uptake. This observation suggests that thymic FDG uptake does not necessarily herald recurrence of thyroid carcinoma and must be interpreted with caution in such a setting. Other conditions associated with abnormal uptake by hyperplastic thymus must also be envisaged.
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Citations
Godart, V., Weynand, B., Coche, E., De Nayer, P.-P., & Daumerie, C. (2005). Intense 18-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake by the thymus on PET scan does not necessarily herald recurrence of thyroid carcinoma. Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, 28(2), 1024-1028. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345343 (Original work published 2005)