Radioactive Iodine as a Single-Modality Treatment in a Tumor Thrombus Arising from Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma

J Nucl Med Technol. 2021 Mar;49(1):82-83. doi: 10.2967/jnmt.120.247122. Epub 2020 Sep 4.

Abstract

On rare occasions, differentiated thyroid carcinoma causes tumor thrombosis in the great veins. Multimodality treatment with surgery, radioiodine therapy, and targeted therapies is used to manage tumor thrombosis associated with thyroid malignancies, though no established guidelines exist. We present a woman with a tracer-avid tumor thrombus in the right brachiocephalic vein after surgery for follicular thyroid carcinoma. Follow-up revealed an excellent response after treatment with 131I as a single modality for both remnant and tumor thrombus.

Keywords: 131I therapy; follicular thyroid carcinoma; tumor thrombus.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular* / diagnostic imaging
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular* / radiotherapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Mediastinum
  • Thrombosis*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms* / radiotherapy

Substances

  • Iodine Radioisotopes