[Quantitated thyroid scan (123I) of the thyroid nodule: a new molecular imaging]

Thyroid nodules are a common clinical finding which often indicates, aside from cancer, a more diffuse disease, such as multinodular goiter, auto-immune thyroid disease or thyroid autonomy. Recent reports suggest that the overall prognosis of thyroid autonomy compares with that of pT2/pT3 thyroid cancer, even in patients with low to normal TSH levels. The thyroid scan (I123) can be quantified, thus offering a powerful tool to diagnose thyroid hyperfunction when local uptake measurements appear innappropriately high as regards to TSH levels. Finally, correlation with ultrasound reduces the number of FNA to suspicious nodules only and optimizes follow-up and specific treatment (lT4, I131) of most benign nodular thyroid diseases.