Nuclear imaging of pulmonary metastases in thyroid carcinoma

Pulmonary metastases were diagnosed in 14 of 52 patients with well differentiated thyroid carcinoma by 131I whole body scintigraphy or radiography. Three patients had metastases only demonstrable on scintigraphy, whereas chest radiography was diagnostic in 4 patients with normal scintigraphic findings. Thus, in this type of thyroid carcinoma, neither 131I scintigraphy nor routine chest films alone will reveal all cases of pulmonary metastases.