An Appraisal and Update of Fluorodeoxyglucose and Non-Fluorodeoxyglucose-PET Tracers in Thyroid and Non-Thyroid Endocrine Neoplasms

Abstract

Endocrine neoplasms and malignancies are a diverse group of tumors with varied clinical, histopathologic, and functional features. These tumors vary from sporadic to hereditary, isolated entities to multiple neoplastic syndromes, functioning and non functioning tumors, unifocal locally invasive, and advanced to multifocal tumors with disseminated distant metastases. The presence of various specific biomarkers and specific receptor targets serves as valuable tools for diagnosis, prognosis, and management. PET-CT with FDG and a multitude of novel and specific radiotracers towards specific therapeutic targets mandates personalization of their use, so as to ensure maximum clinical benefit in the management of these neoplasms.

Keywords: Adrenocortical carcinoma; Aggressive variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma; Anaplastic (undifferentiated) thyroid carcinoma; Differentiated thyroid carcinoma; Medullary thyroid carcinoma; Parathyroid neoplasm; Pheochromocytoma & Paraganglioma; Thyroglobulin elevated negative iodine scintigraphy (TENIS).