Unusual I-131 Accumulation in the Gallbladder and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma in a Patient With Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Clin Nucl Med. 2025 Dec 1;50(12):1217-1218. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000006018. Epub 2025 Jun 9.

Abstract

It is rare to observe I-131 accumulation in the gallbladder and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. We report a case of a 69-year-old woman with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), who received radioactive I-131 therapy (RAIT) after total thyroidectomy and radical right neck dissection. Whole-body scan (WBS) after the RAIT showed that there were 2 abnormally intense foci in the right abdomen. SEPCT/CT showed that they were in the gallbladder and the caudate lobe of the liver. Biopsy of the caudate lobe revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Keywords: I-131 scan; false-positive; gallbladder; intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bile Duct Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Carcinoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Papillary
  • Cholangiocarcinoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cholangiocarcinoma* / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gallbladder* / diagnostic imaging
  • Gallbladder* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes* / therapeutic use
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Iodine-131