J Nucl Med 1988 Sep;29(9):1515-20
Thallium-201 imaging in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
Brendel AJ, Guyot M, Jeandot R, Lefort G, Manciet G.
Since thallium-201 imaging has been reported as a potential means of follow-up
of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) during ongoing thyroid
suppression therapy, the authors evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity of this
procedure in 31 patients known to have metastases or local recurrence. Among 51
tumor sites 201TI imaging had a detection rate of 45% whereas 84% was noted for
imaging with 131I administered in therapeutic doses. Thus, even though the
effectiveness of the two radionuclides is not strictly comparable due to the
difference in the administered doses, Thallium imaging cannot be recommended as
the only modality for the follow-up of patients with DTC. Six of the eight tumor
sites negative with 131I were positive with 201TI (especially metastatic
cervico-mediastinal lymph nodes). So 201TI imaging may particularly be helpful
in localizing metastases or recurrences in patients with a negative 131I scan
and abnormal levels of serum thyroglobulin.
