Abstract
Objective: It is a well-known fact that positron emission tomography (PET) is an effective tool in the assessment of thyroid focal lesions, however only few studies so far have investigated its role in monitoring of autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs). The aim of this study is to assess if PET scan may be useful for the assessment of the thyroid gland in patients with an AITD—Hashimoto's thyroiditis.Methods: We evaluated twenty subjects with diagnosed Hashimoto's thyroiditis (proven by presence of elevated thyroid antibodies level and by thyroid imaging). The maximum standardized uptake value (SUV-max) of the thyroid parenchyma was measured using 18F-FDG-PET/CT. Control group consisted of patients who have been in carcinoma remission for other reasons than thyroid cancer and who had been investigated by PET scan to exclude carcinoma recurrence.All control group subjects had their thyroid glands intact, none of them had a medical history of thyroid disease including thyroid nodules. AITDs had been excluded in all control group subjects. STATISTICA 13.1 software was used for statistical analysis.Results: Results: The SUV-max was significantly higher in patients with an AITD than in healthy subjects (median SUV-max 3.94 vs. 1.95; p = 0.005).Conclusions: 18F-FDG-PET/CT scan may differentiate normal thyroid parenchyma from the diffused inflammatory changes of the thyroid gland in patients with AITDs. However, the researchers must be continued.
Highlights
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) is a wide group of autoimmune thyroid disorders like hyperthyroid Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or atrophic autoimmune hypothyroidism [1]
Control subjects were six patients who have been in carcinoma remission and underwent neck imaging with a positron emission tomography (PET) scan due to reasons other than assessment of thyroid disease
In clinical oncology PET-CT may be used as a diagnostic tool which may reduce amount of unnecessary surgical interventions [15]
Summary
Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs) is a wide group of autoimmune thyroid disorders like hyperthyroid Graves’ disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or atrophic autoimmune hypothyroidism [1]. AITD may result in hyperthyroidism, subclinical dysfunction or, most commonly, in hypothyroidism. AITDs may be a prelude to the subsequent development of thyroid hormone disorders. There is no ideal test for diagnosis of AITDs. Currently the diagnosis of AITD is based on the coexistence of clinical symptoms, presence of antibodies against thyroid antigens (thyroperoxidase, thyroglobulin) and characteristic ultrasound image [3]. The diagnosis of AITD is based on the coexistence of clinical symptoms, presence of antibodies against thyroid antigens (thyroperoxidase, thyroglobulin) and characteristic ultrasound image [3] It is undoubtedly worth looking for new methods of diagnosing and monitoring the disease. AITD can be associated with other autoimmune diseases in the same patient such as vitiligo, chronic autoimmune gastritis, rheumatoid arthritis or polymyalgia rheumatica [4]
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