Papel de la tomografía por emisión de positrones en el cáncer diferenciado de tiroides

Functional and methodological features of positron emission tomography (PET) are described, with special emphasis on the fluorine-18- fluorodesoxyglucose (18FDG) isotope and its applications in the follow-up of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). According to the medical literature, the main role of 18FDG-PET is to detect DTC recurrences in patients with negative 131I scanning and elevated thyroglobulin levels. The hypothetical advantages of rTSH treatment prior to 18FDG-PET, and of combined computed tomography (CT)/FDG-PET imaging in the detection of recurrences are examined. The possible value of 18FDG-PET in the evaluation of thyroid nodules, and of PET in the evaluation of thyroid incidentaloma, are discussed.