Evaluation of focal thyroid lesions incidentally detected in fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography images

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Increased uptake in the thyroid gland (TG) is often identified as an incidental finding on the whole body fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (F-18-FDG PET/CT) in non-thyroid cancer patients. Currently, there is no consensus on the appropriate approach for the management of these cases. Thyroid ultrasound, scintigraphy and fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are suggested to exclude malignant thyroid lesions. Our aim is to determine the importance of increased F-18-FDG uptake in the TG on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scans in patients who are being screened for various forms of non-thyroid cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated 2000 cases undergoing whole body PET/CT scanning between April 2011 and October 2012. The age, sex, type of primary cancer, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), size of the thyroid nodules and cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) on F-18-FDG PET/CT images and if available, the biopsy results were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 57 patients (23 men, 34 women, mean age +/- standard deviation (SD), 60.89 +/- 14 years) showed an increased fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) uptake by the TG (average SUVmax : 4.07 +/- 3.7). The CLNs were detected in 19/57 patients (33%). Only 20 cases (35%) received FNAB. The final histopathological diagnosis was papillary thyroid carcinoma in seven patients (mean SUVmax +/- SD: 6.0 +/- 5.43) and benign thyroid disease in seven patients (mean SUVmax +/- SD: 2.36 +/- 0.63). The FNAB results were undetermined for six patients. CONCLUSION: Focal high F-18-FDG uptake in the TG may be associated with an increased risk of malignancy, but the clinical significance is unclear. More data are needed to elucidate the role of the SUV in the differentiation of benign and malign thyroid lesions. If a focal increase in F-18-FDG uptake in the TG on PET/CT is present, a prompt histopathological evaluation should be suggested to clinicians for definitive diagnosis.