Unexpected Retrosternal Goiter Interpreted as Hyperfunctioning Metastasis on the Posttherapeutic 131I SPECT/CT

Clin Nucl Med. 2022 Mar 1;47(3):258-259. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000003908.

Abstract

We present a 38-year-old man who underwent total thyroidectomy with radical right neck dissection due to papillary thyroid cancer was referred for 131I treatment. The patient was in subclinical hypothyroidism with remarkable stimulated Tg level after 4 weeks of l-thyroxine withdrawal before 131I treatment, which indicated hyperfunctioning metastasis. Posttherapeutic 131I whole-body scan combined with 131I SPECT/CT performed on day 3 after 131I administration revealed an elevated 131I uptake mass in cervicothoracic region. To our surprise, the mass was histologically confirmed to be a retrosternal goiter.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Goiter*
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Thyroglobulin
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Thyroidectomy

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Iodine-131
  • Thyroglobulin