Primer and atlas for the interpretation of radioiodine whole-body scintigraphy

Abstract

Radioiodine whole-body scintigraphy remains an important diagnostic modality in the evaluation of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The advantages and disadvantages of the various radioiodine isotopes, and how the images are obtained, were discussed in Chapter 14. This chapter presents a primer and atlas for the interpretation of radioiodine whole-body scintigraphy. The objective of the primer is to present a simple, consistent, and reliable approach to the evaluation and interpretation of radioiodine whole-body scans. The objectives of the atlas are to demonstrate (1) a spectrum of residual activity in the thyroid bed; (2) a spectrum of nonthyroidal physiological uptake; (3) various patterns of metastatic disease; (4) examples of false-positives and artifacts; and (5) several techniques to help the interpreter differentiate metastatic disease from physiologic uptake, false-positives, and artifacts. Although all patterns of physiologic uptake, false-positive uptake, and artifacts cannot be presented, a comprehensive review of the literature of thyroidal uptake, nonthyroidal uptake, false-positives, and artifacts of radioiodine uptake is presented in Chapter 16. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.