Iodine 131 ablation of an obstructive lingual thyroid

Authors

  • Zeal Patel
  • Lester Johnson

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.v3i2.70

Keywords:

lingual thyroid, radioactive iodine 131 ablation, SPECT, single photon emission computed tomography, MRI, magnetic resonance imaging, SPECT/CT, CT, computed tomography, 131Iodine, 131I,

Abstract

A 48-year-old woman undergoing surgery could not be intubated because of an oropharyngeal mass. CT and MRI revealed a 3 cm possible lingual thyroid mass, confirmed by Iodine-123 SPECT/CT. The patient underwent successful Iodine-131 ablation and has done well on thyroid hormone-replacement therapy. This case also demonstrates how modern cross-sectional imaging like SPECT/CT can appropriately be used in the patient diagnosis and management, and is of additional interest for including pre- and post-therapy MRI documenting efficacy morphologically.

Author Biographies

Zeal Patel

Zeal Patel, M.D.S

Department of Radiology, EVMS

Lester Johnson

Lester Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.

Chairman, Assist. Professor

Department of Radiology, EVMS

Published

2009-01-31

Issue

Section

Nuclear Medicine / Molecular Imaging