Scintigraphic Thyroid Abnormalities after Radiation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
99mTc-pertechnetate thyroid scintigraphy was performed on 99 subjects with no history of therapeutic irradiation to the head or neck. They were compared with 198 irradiated patients selected from a group of over 1700 who were evaluated because of radiation treatment for benign head and neck conditions during childhood. The 2 groups were similar with respect to age and sex distribution. There were significantly more abnormal scintigrams in the irradiated group (55 of 198 patients vs. 1 of 99 controls). Even after patients and controls with palpable nodules were excluded from the analysis there were still more abnormal scintigrams in the irradiated group (16 of 150 irradiated vs. one of 97 control subjects). Thyroid nodules, including the smaller, nonpalpable nodules discovered by scintigraphy, are related to previous radiation therapy. For persons at substantial risk, such as those who received high-dose treatment (> 700 R) during childhood, the data support the use of screening scintigraphy, even with normal findings on palpation.
Keywords