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Published in: BMC Cancer 1/2020

01-12-2020 | Metastasis | Research article

Neck lymph node metastasis detection in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in long-term follow-up: a 131I-SPECT/CT study

Authors: Angela Spanu, Susanna Nuvoli, Andrea Marongiu, Ilaria Gelo, Luciana Mele, Bastiana Piras, Giuseppe Madeddu

Published in: BMC Cancer | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

The identification of neck lymph node (LN) metastases represents a very important issue in the management of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). To this purpose, in the present study, we used 131I-SPECT/CT as a diagnostic imaging procedure.

Methods

A consecutive series of 224 DTC patients with ascertained neck radioiodine-avid foci at 131I-SPECT/CT during long-term follow-up was evaluated. All patients had already undergone total thyroidectomy and radioiodine therapy and had been classified as follows: 62 at high risk (H), 64 at low risk (L) and 98 at very low risk (VL). 131I-Whole body scan (WBS) followed by SPECT/CT was performed in all cases.

Results

In the 224 patients, 449 neck iodine avid foci were ascertained at SPECT/CT, while 322 were evidenced at WBS in 165/224 patients. WBS classified as residues 263/322 foci and as unclear 59/322 foci; among the former foci SPECT/CT correctly characterized 8 LN metastases and 3 physiologic uptakes and among the latter, it pinpointed 26 LN metastases, 18 residues, and 15 physiologic uptakes. SPECT/CT also classified 127 foci occult at WBS as 59 LN metastases and 68 residues. Globally, SPECT/CT identified 93 LN metastases in 59 patients (26 H, 20 L, 13 VL), while WBS evidenced 34 in 25 cases. All 13 VL patients, T1aN0M0, 5 of whom with LN near sub-mandibular glands, had thyroglobulin undetectable or < 2.5 ng/ml. Globally, SPECT/CT obtained an incremental value than WBS in 45.5% of patients, a more correct patient classification changing therapeutic approach in 30.3% of cases and identified WBS false-positive findings in 8% of cases.

Conclusions

131I-SPECT/CT proved to correctly detect and characterize neck LN metastases in DTC patients in long-term follow-up, improving the performance of planar WBS. SPECT/CT routine use is thus suggested; its role is particularly relevant in patients with WBS inconclusive, VL, T1aN0M0 and with undetectable or very low thyroglobulin levels.
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Metadata
Title
Neck lymph node metastasis detection in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in long-term follow-up: a 131I-SPECT/CT study
Authors
Angela Spanu
Susanna Nuvoli
Andrea Marongiu
Ilaria Gelo
Luciana Mele
Bastiana Piras
Giuseppe Madeddu
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Cancer / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2407
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-020-06744-1

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