Asthmatic Exacerbation as a Cause of False-Positive Whole-Body Iodine Scan in a Patient With Treated Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

• Published in: Clinical nuclear medicine Vol. 43; no. 4; pp. 256 - 257
• Main Authors: Chaussé, Guillaume, Kader, Tina, Abikhzer, Gad, Probst, Stephan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Copyright Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved 01-04-2018
• Subjects: Adult; Asthma - complications; Carcinoma, Papillary - complications; Carcinoma, Papillary - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Papillary - metabolism; Carcinoma, Papillary - therapy; False Positive Reactions; Female; Humans; Thyroglobulin - metabolism; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Thyroid Neoplasms - complications; Thyroid Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Thyroid Neoplasms - metabolism; Thyroid Neoplasms - therapy; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Whole Body Imaging
• ISSN: 0363-9762; 1536-0229
• DOI: 10.1097/RLU.0000000000002014

ABSTRACTA 44-year-old woman was found to have new diffuse lung uptake on a follow-up whole-body I scan 1 year after being treated with surgery and radioactive iodine for papillary thyroid cancer. However, subsequent CT thorax and thyroglobulin levels were both unremarkable. Shortly after, she presented with respiratory symptoms, exhibiting end-expiratory wheezing on auscultation. Metacholine challenge test confirmed asthma. Symptoms improved under inhaled corticosteroids and beta-2 agonists. Resolution of lung uptake was confirmed on a second I imaging 6 months later.