Kyung-Eun Kim MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Eun-Kyung Kim, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jin Young Kwak MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hee Jung Moon MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate the incidence, clinicopathologic and sonographic characteristics of thyroid cancers that exhibit positive PET scans.

From January 2007 to February 2008, 156 patients with thyroid cancer underwent both sonography and FDG-PET for the purpose of staging the cancer. We conducted a retrospective review of their clinical, radiologic, and pathologic records and evaluated the incidence of PET-positive thyroid cancer, as well as the associated clinicopathologic aggressiveness and sonographic features.

The incidence of PET-positive thyroid carcinoma was 78.2% (122/156). By using univariate analysis, PET-positive thyroid cancer was significantly associated with tumor size, extracapsular invasion, and central lymph node metastasis, but there was no association between sonographic features and grouping based on sonographic features (“probably benign,” “suspicious malignant”) and FDG uptake. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between a positive PET and both extrathyroidal extension and higher cancer stage (III/IV) (P<0.05).

The incidence of PET positive thyroid carcinoma is high (78.2 %), and PET positivity is significantly associated with tumor size, extracapsular extension, and higher stage. However, there is no significant association between positive PET scans and sonographic features.

This study was to evaluate the incidence and the clinicopathologic and US characteristics of PET-positive thyroid cancer.

Kim, K, Kim, E, Kwak, J, Moon, H, 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography for Primary Thyroid Cancer: Clinical and Sonographic Correlation.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11034393.html