[Diagnostic modalities in patients affected by differentiated thyroid carcinoma with high thyroglobulin levels and total body Iodium-131 negative: PET/CT use after recTSH]

Minerva Endocrinol. 2004 Dec;29(4):151-60.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

In the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), after total thyroidectomy and Iodine-131 therapy, thyroglobulin (Tg) levels and Iodine-131 total body have particular importance. The Tg level becomes a specific and very sensitive marker of DTC recurrence: it is usually evaluated after eradication of thyroid residual tissue (by thyroidectomy and radiometabolic therapy), in presence of high level of TSH (>35 microU/ml) obtained with the suspension of therapy or after rec-TSH administration and in absence of anti-Tg antibodies. Usually, to solve diagnostic problems in patients with negative total body Iodine-131 and high levels of thyroglobulin, we consider one or more of the following investigations, on the basis of prognostic factors: radiological examinations (neck US, skeletal X-ray, CT chest and abdomen, MRI) and scintigraphy (bone scintigraphy, Tc-MIBI or Tl-201 scintigraphy, octreoscan, PET/CT). The use of PET is well known in patients in whom carcinoma metastases are strongly suspected and who are unable of concentrating Iodine-131. In order to increase the PET sensitivity, scintigraphy is performed with high TSH levels obtained through a rec-TSH injection on the 1st and 2nd day, PET/CT scan and blood withdrawal (for Tg level evaluation) on the 3rd day. Considering the hypothesis of a recurrence with lesion size below the resolution power of the diagnostic equipment (5 mm), if PET/CT results are negative, the patients are strictly followed-up and Tg is monitored every 4-6 months. An alternative hypothesis might be not to consider the negative-PET patients as sick persons, but to attribute high Tg levels to illegitimate transcription of mRNA for Tg by the non-thyroid cells or to ectopic thyroid tissue (e.g. intrathymus). Positive PET/CT patients are evaluated for a possible surgical removal of the lesions or alternative appropriate therapies.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Carcinoma / blood
  • Carcinoma / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma / therapy
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / pharmacokinetics*
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Octreotide / therapeutic use
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
  • Thyroglobulin / blood*
  • Thyroglobulin / genetics
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / blood
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy
  • Thyroidectomy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Thyroglobulin
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
  • Octreotide