The incidental discovery of follicular thyroid cancer with In-111 pentetreotide scintigraphy in a patient with carcinoid tumor of the lung

Although scintigraphy with the somatostatin receptor agent In-111 pentetreotide is most useful in patients with amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation-derived tumors, several reports note the tumor-targeting potential of this radiopharmaceutical in other types of cancers as well. The authors describe a 38-year-old woman with carcinoid tumor of the lung in whom scintigraphy with labeled pentetreotide was positive in the known lung tumor and incidentally revealed uptake in a thyroid nodule. Although the serum calcitonin level was normal, fine-needle cytology of the thyroid nodule was consistent with follicular cancer. The patient underwent resection of the lower lobe of the left lung and total thyroidectomy, which confirmed a follicular cancer in the right thyroid lobe.