Relationship between serum thyroglobulin and 18FDG-PET/CT in 131I-negative differentiated thyroid carcinomas

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between [18F]‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18FDG)‐positron emission tomography/CT (18FDG‐PET/CT) and serum thyroglobulin (Tg) in patients with recurrent differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Methods Forty‐two patients with recurrent DTC and negative Tg antibodies were included in the study. All patients underwent 131I therapy due to an increasing serum Tg with a corresponding negative 131I posttreatment whole body scan. The 18FDG‐PET/CT scans were then performed on all patients, serum Tg was measured concurrently, and respective results were compared. Results Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV), positive predictive value (PPV), and accuracy of the 18FDG‐PET/CT examination were 93%, 84%, 93%, 84%, and 90%, respectively. The sensitivity of 18FDG‐PET/CT significantly increased in patients with serum Tg levels ≥4.6 ng/mL (96%) in comparison with patients having lower levels (25%; p < .001). Nonetheless, 3 of 27 patients (11%) with a true‐positive 18FDG‐PET/CT still had a Tg 10 ng/mL. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2012