False-positive iodine-131 whole body scan due to a benign dermal lesion; intradermal nevus (131I uptake in a benign nevus)

Abstract

Whole body radioiodine scanning (WBS), along with plasma thyroglobulin level, remains a reference method for detecting residual or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer, however, false-positive WBS is not uncommon. External contaminations by body secretions or excretions, inflammation, and cystic structures mimicking metastases in WBS have been reported. Various benign and malignant tumors having different histopathological natures accumulate radioiodine, but intradermal melanocytic nevus was not previously described in the literature, as far as we know. This report describes an unusual cause of false-positive WBS after radioablation therapy due to an intradermal nevus, and the possible mechanisms are discussed.