The Open Nuclear Medicine Journal

2011, 3 : 1-6
Published online 2011 January 24. DOI: 10.2174/1876388X01103010001
Publisher ID: TONMEDJ-3-1

Detection of Extensive Metastases from Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer by F- 18 FDG-PET/CT

M. Vorster and M. M. Sathekge
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Pretoria and Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.

ABSTRACT

Background:

Survival with anaplastic thyroid cancer is dependent on how rapid multimodality treatment (chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery) and thus accurate assessment of the extent of the disease critical to predict prognosis and therapy planning.

Methods & Results:

We present a case of anaplastic cancer in a 54-year-old woman who presented with a supra-sternal lump which has decreased in size in response to chemo- and radiotherapy. CT and FDG-PET/CT scan were performed after therapy. CT demonstrated supra-sternal and lung metastases. FDG-PET/CT demonstrated the primary lesion and its distant widespread metastases, beyond the lung and supra-sternal mass.

Conclusion:

This case emphasizes the need for FDG PET/CT if there is equivocal clinical, laboratory, and radiological evidence of recurrence and metastases, especially if the suspected finding seems can be very unusual for metastatic lesions.