Evaluation of thyroid FDG uptake incidentally identified on FDG-PET/CT imaging

Abstract

Thyroid FDG uptake incidentally identified on FDG-PET/CT occurred at a frequency of 3.8%, with about half of focal and half of diffuse lesions. The risk of thyroid malignancy was 63.6% in lesions with focal uptake, whereas the majority of diffuse uptake cases represents chronic thyroiditis. More data are needed to elucidate the role of SUV in the differentiation of benign and malignant lesions.