Updated Review of Nuclear Molecular Imaging of Thyroid Cancers

Hao Fu; Ri Sa; Lin Cheng; Yuchen Jin; Xian Qiu; Min Liu; Libo Chen

doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2020.10.001

Updated Review of Nuclear Molecular Imaging of Thyroid Cancers

Endocr Pract. 2021 May;27(5):494-502. doi: 10.1016/j.eprac.2020.10.001. Epub 2020 Dec 14.

Authors

Hao Fu¹, Ri Sa², Lin Cheng³, Yuchen Jin³, Xian Qiu³, Min Liu⁴, Libo Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Nuclear Medicine & Minnan PET Center, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, People's Republic of China.
² Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
³ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
⁵ Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: lbchen@sjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 33934754
DOI: 10.1016/j.eprac.2020.10.001

Abstract

Objectives: We initiate this comprehensive review to update the advances in this field by objectively elucidating the efficacies of promising radiopharmaceuticals.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive PUBMED search using the combined terms of "thyroid cancer" and "radiopharmaceuticals" or "nuclear medicine", yielding 3273 and 11026 articles prior to December 31, 2020, respectively.

Results: Based on the mechanism of molecular metabolism, the evaluation of differentiated thyroid cancer and dedifferentiated thyroid cancer is largely centered around radioiodine and fluorine 18 (¹⁸F)-fludeoxyglucose, respectively. Further, ¹⁸F-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine and gallium 68 DOTATATE are the preferred tracers for medullary thyroid cancer. In dedifferentiated medullary thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer, ¹⁸F-fludeoxyglucose is superior.

Conclusions: The future lies in advances in molecular biology, novel radiopharmaceuticals and imaging devices, paving ways to the development of personalized medication for thyroid cancer patients.

Keywords: nuclear medicine; nuclear molecular imaging; radiopharmaceuticals; thyroid cancer.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
Humans
Iodine Radioisotopes*
Molecular Imaging
Positron-Emission Tomography
Radionuclide Imaging
Radiopharmaceuticals
Thyroid Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging

Substances

Iodine Radioisotopes
Radiopharmaceuticals
Fluorodeoxyglucose F18