Alternative thyroid imaging

Abstract

Radioiodine (131I and 123I) remains the most frequently used radionuclide for thyroid imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). However, an estimated 20-30% of WDTCs do not accumulate radioiodine at the time of initial clinical presentation, and many WDTCs that are initially radioiodine-avid will dedifferentiate and lose their ability to concentrate radioiodine. This is especially true following radioiodine therapy. In addition, medullary and anaplastic thyroid carcinomas do not accumulate radioiodine. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.