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Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
Evaluation of 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography in iodine scan negative, differentiated thyroid
1Department of ENT, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK. edwardchisholm@doctors.org.uk
Background:
Follow up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer is based upon anatomical imaging, thyroglobulin assay and functional imaging in the form of iodine uptake scanning. A significant cohort of such patients have rising thyroglobulin levels but negative iodine scans. In this group, 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scans have been commonly employed. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of such investigation.
Methods:
The sensitivity of 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography for detecting recurrence of differentiated thyroid cancer was calculated from a retrospective review of scan results from patients with iodine scan negative recurrence.
Results:
Eighteen patients with rising thyroglobulin levels underwent 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scanning. Fourteen patients had negative (and four equivocal) whole body iodine scintigraphy scans. Of these 14, six patients had a positive 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography scan, giving a sensitivity of 42.9 per cent.
Conclusions:
When assessed in the clinical setting and restricted to patients with negative iodine scans, the sensitivity of 18fluoro-2-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography was found to be lower than in previous case series.
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