PET/CT in the management of thyroid cancers

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014 Jun;202(6):1316-29. doi: 10.2214/AJR.13.11673.

Abstract

Objective: Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer. This review evaluates the established use of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in papillary, follicular, Hürthle cell, anaplastic, and medullary thyroid cancers. The significance of incidental diffuse and focal thyroid FDG uptake is discussed. The evolving value of non-FDG radiotracers, including (124)I, (18)F-dihydroxyphenylalanine, and (68)Ga somatostatin analogs, is summarized.

Conclusion: PET/CT is a valuable imaging test, in the appropriate clinical context, for the management of thyroid cancers.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Positron-Emission Tomography / methods*
  • Prognosis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome