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Radioiodine Planar and a SPECT/CT Imaging with Iodine-123 for Evaluation of Follicular Thyroid Nodules Prior to Surgery

Trial Status: closed to accrual

This study evaluates radioiodine planar and SPECT/CT imaging with iodine-123 in patients with follicular thyroid nodules prior to surgery. Because biopsy alone is not sufficient to distinguish between malignant follicular thyroid nodules and benign follicular thyroid nodules, patients with follicular thyroid lesions are referred for surgery for further evaluation. A non-invasive imaging method that can accurately determine malignancy in follicular thyroid nodules would be valuable in patient management and could potentially spare patients unnecessary surgery. Planar imagine uses a gamma camera to obtain 2D images and SPECT/CT imaging is a special type of CT scan in which a small amount of a radioactive drug is injected into a vein and a scanner is used to make detailed images of areas inside the body where the radioactive material is taken up by the tumor cells. Radioiodine planar and SPECT/CT imaging may be more accurate in distinguishing between benign follicular thyroid nodules and malignant follicular thyroid nodules to help reduce the need for surgery.