Comparative scanning of thyroid nodules with technetium-99m pertechnetate and technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile

Eur J Nucl Med. 1993 Apr;20(4):330-3. doi: 10.1007/BF00169809.

Abstract

Thyroid imaging was performed using technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile and technetium-99m pertechnetate in 58 patients. The 99mTc-pertechnetate scans showed a total of 77 nodules: 60 cold, 13 hot and 4 of normal activity. There was no 99mTc-MIBI accumulation in 46.4% of 99mTc-pertechnetate cold nodules; 27 (45%) of these nodules showed 99mTc-MIBI uptake with the same intensity as the surrounding normal tissue, and five (8.6%) became hot with 99mTc-MIBI. Of the 99mTc-pertechnetate hot nodules 11 (84.6%) could not be differentiated from the normal extranodular tissue on the 99mTc-MIBI scan. The histopathology of 34 surgically removed nodules proved that increased, normal or decreased 99mTc-MIBI accumulation is not specific for thyroid malignancy and that the 99mTc-MIBI uptake depends mainly on the viability of thyroid tissue.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Goiter, Nodular / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m*
  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi*
  • Thyroid Gland / diagnostic imaging*
  • Thyroid Nodule / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi
  • Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m