I-131 postablation SPECT/CT predicts relapse of papillary thyroid carcinoma more accurately than whole body scan

Abstract

Background/Aim: The aim of the study was to prospectively compare I-131 postablation Whole Body scan (WBS) and Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography/Computerized Tomography (SPECT/CT) scan on thyroid cancer patients. Patients and Methods: Overall, 58 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were submitted to total thyroidectomy and I-131 remnant ablation. Postablation WBS and SPECT/CT scans performed on the same day were compared. Results of SPECT/CT were confirmed by neck and upper mediastinum ultrasound scan and on specific cases by a fully diagnostic CT scan, other tests and definitive histology acting as the gold standard. A total of 36/58 patients were followed-up for 5 years to detect relapse. Results: Mac Nemar Chi square and Fisher's exact tests disclosed statistically significant differences between WBS and SPECT/CT scan, concerning cervical lymphadenopathy detection (p=0.031) and relapse prediction by NM stage (p=0.033), respectively; SPECT/CT was more accurate in both comparisons. Conclusion: In papillary thyroid carcinoma I-131 post-ablation SPECT/CT scan detects cervical lymphadenopathy and predicts relapse by NM stage more accurately than WBS.