[Imaging of metastases from thyroid carcinomas using 111In-pentetreotide scintigraphy]

There is little experience with imaging of thyroid carcinoma tissue by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy. Our case report describes an acromegalic patient, in whom 111In pentetreotide scintigraphy did not only demonstrate a receptor-positive pituitary tumor but also visualized metastases from a papillary thyroid carcinoma which had no correlate in radioiodine scintigraphy carried out under hypothyroid conditions. The possible role of this radiopharmaceutical in dedifferentiating thyroid carcinoma is discussed for its usefulness in tumor localisation and its predictive value for the outcome of an octreotide therapy.