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World Journal of Surgical Oncology
Published in: World Journal of Surgical Oncology 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research

Incidental thyroid lesions detected by FDG-PET/CT: prevalence and risk of thyroid cancer

Authors: Ja Seong Bae, Byung Joo Chae, Woo Chan Park, Jeong Soo Kim, Sung Hoon Kim, Sang Seol Jung, Byung Joo Song

Published in: World Journal of Surgical Oncology | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

Incidentally found thyroid lesions are frequently detected in patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of incidentally found thyroid lesions in patients undergoing FDG-PET/CT and determine the risk for thyroid cancer.

Methods

FDG-PET/CT was performed on 3,379 patients for evaluation of suspected or known cancer or cancer screening without any history of thyroid cancer between November 2003 and December 2005. Medical records related to the FDG-PET/CT findings including maximum SUV(SUVmax) and pattern of FDG uptake, US findings, FNA, histopathology received by operation were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Two hundred eighty five patients (8.4%) were identified to have FDG uptake on FDG-PET/CT. 99 patients with focal or diffuse FDG uptake underwent further evaluation. The cancer risk of incidentally found thyroid lesions on FDG-PET/CT was 23.2% (22/99) and the cancer risks associated with focal and diffuse FDG uptake were 30.9% and 6.4%. There was a significant difference in the SUVmax between the benign and malignant nodules (3.35 ± 1.69 vs. 6.64 ± 4.12; P < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between the SUVmax and the size of the cancer.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that incidentally found thyroid lesions by FDG-PET/CT, especially a focal FDG uptake and a high SUV, have a high risk of thyroid malignancy. Further diagnostic work-up is needed in these cases.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Incidental thyroid lesions detected by FDG-PET/CT: prevalence and risk of thyroid cancer
Authors
Ja Seong Bae
Byung Joo Chae
Woo Chan Park
Jeong Soo Kim
Sung Hoon Kim
Sang Seol Jung
Byung Joo Song
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
World Journal of Surgical Oncology / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7819
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7819-7-63

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