Comparison of whole body scintigraphy with Tc-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile and iodine-131 NA in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer.

Al Saleh K¹, Safwat R, Al-Shammeri I, Abdul Naseer M, Hooda H, Al-Mohannadi S.

Author information

• ¹Department of Radiation Oncology, Kuwait Cancer Control Centre, Ministry of Public Health, Kuwait.

Abstract

In this study we compared whole body scintigraphy with Tc-99m-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and Iodine-131 NA (131I) for detection of residual and/or metastatic disease in well differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS:

MIBI and I-131 scans were obtained in 60 patients. TSH measurements were done in all the patients prior to scintigraphy.

RESULTS:

Out of 60 patients, for whom both I-131 and MIBI scans were done, I-131 scans were positive in 59 (98.3%) patients, whereas MIBI scans were positive in only 17 (27%) patients. There was only one patient in which I-131 scan was negative and MIBI scan was positive.

CONCLUSION:

I-131 scintigraphy still remains the best way to successfully detect residual/metastatic disease in differentiated thyroid carcinoma.