Tan Guo MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Cheng Zhou MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yanyan Wang, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Guogeng Wu MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Juan Chen MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Huizhi Cao, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Yun Shen PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Employee, General Electric Company

The most commonly seen thyroid solitary nodes include hyper- function adenoma、non-function adenoma and thyroid carcinoma. Some of these lesions show cystic degeneration. The hyper-function lesions manifest high attenuation iodine-based image and non-function lesions manifest low attenuation. The cystic degeneration component manifests high attenuation in water-based image. The aim of this study is to evaluate the function, estimate the probable component of the thyroid solitary node, differentiate the nature of the lesion.

The population of this study included 10 patients with thyroid solitary node undergoing a plain scan with HDCT(Discovery CT750 HD GE Healthcare). Most of them underwent an enhancement scan and nuclear examination as well. The images were constructed with GSI viewer and converted to monochromatic images. The iodine and water based images were analyzed. Comparison of them with 99mTc04 thyroid planar imaging was carried out. The nodes were finally excised and pathological result obtained.

Of the entire group, 2 patients are diagnosed as thyroid carcinoma; the lesion showed low attenuation in iodine-based image with had moderate enhancement. 6 thyroid nodes are diagnosed as non-function adenoma, the solid component of which also manifested low density in iodine-based image; 3 of them had cystic degeneration. In water-based image, cystic lesions were of high density, corresponding to regions which are rich in jelly component under microscope. In one case, the solid portion on the cystic wall was similar to a filling defect with obvious enhancement. 2 cases were hyper-function adenoma. The nodes were of high attenuation in iodine-based image. All patients’ iodine-based image findings coincide with the result of nuclear examination.

Gemstone spectral CT Imaging can reveal observe the function and analyze the component of thyroid nodes, it correspond to the findings of nuclear medicine and pathology quite precisely.

Clinically, the nature of thyroid solitary node is hard to determine. Monochromatic CT imaging may provide more information about the function and component details of thyroid lesion.

Guo, T, Zhou, C, Wang, Y, Wu, G, Chen, J, Cao, H, Shen, Y, The Use of Gemstone Spectral CT Imaging in Determining the Function and Component of Thyroid Solitary Node.  Radiological Society of North America 2010 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2010 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2010/9010573.html