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/sup 99m/Tc diphosphonate imaging in the differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules

Journal Article · · Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States)
Early /sup 99m/Tc diphosphonate (DP) imaging was performed in 122 patients with cold thyroid nodules in an effort to differentiate benign nodules from malignant. Immediately upon completion of the routine 24-hour /sup 123/I uptake and multiview pinhole imaging, /sup 99m/Tc DP was injected intravenously and three serial 3-minute anterior images of the thyroid gland were obtained. Follow-up information was available in 85 patients. All cystic lesions had less /sup 99m/Tc uptake as compared with the uptake in the normal parts of the thyroid. However, 48 of 50 solid nodules had /sup 99m/Tc DP uptake to the same or greater degree than did the normal gland. The other two had mixed pattern on ultrasound examination. Most of the carcinomas (8 of 10) and benign adenomas (15 of 22) had identical appearance on /sup 99m/Tc scans, i.e., uptake in the lesion being the same as in the normal thyroid. It appears that by using this technique it is possible to separate solid nodules from cystic, but not benign from malignant.
Research Organization:
Division of Nuclear Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
OSTI ID:
6584086
Journal Information:
Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Clin. Nucl. Med.; (United States) Vol. 7:8; ISSN CNMED
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English