Short summary

The aim is to evaluate the prevalence of malignancy in incidental focal thyroidal uptake on PET with fluorine-18 deoxyglucose integrated with computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) in Danish patients.

Rationale

Focal FDG uptake in the thyroid gland occurs in 1-2% of patients scanned for nonthyroidal causes and is reported to be associated with malignancy in 27-50% of those cases. These numbers are based on international, retrospective data, a Scandinavian demographic lacking.

We will retrospectively review patients who underwent FDG PET/CT scans over a period of 6 years, where focal FDG uptake was observed, to shed light on the risk of malignancy in this Danish cohort.

Description of the cohort

All patients referred to a FDG PET/CT scan at the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, where an incidental focal thyroidal uptake is observed, in the period from 2011 to 2016.

Data and biological material

The study will examine the following variables: Gender, age at diagnosis, TSH, Calcitonin, TRAb, anti-TPO, anti-Tg, ultrasound, thyroid-scintigraphy, FNAB, histology, prior thyroid disease, primary disease, follow-up on finding.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University hospital

• Professor Poul Flemming Høilund-Carlsen
• Peter Grupe, MD

Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital

• Professor Laszlo Hegedüs
• Steen Joop Bonnema, dr. med.
• Thomas Brix, MD

Department of Neurology, Vejle Hospital

• Kerstin Soelberg, MD

Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Odense University Hospital

• Professor Christian Godballe