Osteoblastic metastases from breast carcinoma with false-negative bone scan

 The authors report a case of metastatic breast carcinoma that on investigation was shown to have a negative bone scan in spite of multiple densely sclerotic metastases on radiography and CT and a positive bone biopsy. The literature is reviewed with regard to the subject of negative bone scans in this situation.     

CT demonstration of calcified liver metastases in medullary thyroid carcinoma

The presence of calcification can be found in greater than 50% of thyroid cancers. With medullary thyroid carcinoma, calcifications may be found in the primary lesion as well as in metastatic lymph nodes and in the liver. We report two cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma with associated calcified liver metastases.     

Visualization of hepatic metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma on Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy

A 35-year-old man with a history of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid underwent a whole-body bone scan for chest wall pain. Extensive irregular radionuclide uptake was observed in hepatic metastases in both lobes, later confirmed on CT scan. A case of technetium-99m MDP uptake in hepatic metastases from medullary carcinoma of the thyroid is presented and the literature is reviewed.     

Cervical lymph node metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma: CT findings

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare malignancy which spreads frequently to cervical lymph nodes. We report the CT findings of MTC metastatic cervical adenopathies in two patients with previously resected MTC. The CT scans showed calcifications (one patient) and massive homogeneous postcontrast nodal enhancement. Medullary thyroid carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of entities showing calcifications and intense homogeneous adenopathic enhancement on CT studies. Received 25 September 1995; Revision received 27 February 1996; Accepted 29 February 1996     

18F-FDG PET detection of lymph node metastases in medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Postsurgically elevated or increasing serum calcitonin levels strongly suggest the presence of residual or recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Several imaging modalities (sonography, MRI, CT, scintigraphy with different types of radiolabeled ligands, etc.) are routinely used in an attempt to localize tumorous tissue, but such efforts often fail. In the search for a more reliable method, 18F-FDG PET was applied to detect tumor tissue of residual or recurrent MTC. METHODS: Forty patients with a postoperatively elevated plasma calcitonin level were included. These patients underwent routine diagnostic imaging procedures (CT, MRI, and 131I-metaiodobenzylguanidine [MIBG] whole-body planar scintigraphy or SPECT) and 18F-FDG PET examinations. Two independent experts visually analyzed the images provided by each method to detect pathologic lesions. Lymph nodes of > or = 1 cm in short diameter that were detected by radiologic methods were considered to be pathologic. 18F-FDG accumulation with a sharp contour reported by both independent observers was similarly regarded as pathologic. RESULTS: PET detected 270 foci with a high tracer accumulation, whereas only 116 lesions were detected by MRI and 141 by CT. The numbers of such foci determined by PET, MRI, and CT were 98, 34, and 34, respectively, in the neck; 25, 5, and 6, respectively, in the supraclavicular regions; and 117, 35, and 39, respectively, in the mediastinum. 131I-MIBG scintigraphy findings were positive for only 3 patients. CONCLUSION: For MTC patients with a postoperatively elevated plasma tumor marker level, PET was more sensitive and superior in localizing tumorous lymph node involvement than were the other imaging modalities, especially in the cervical, supraclavicular, and mediastinal lymphatic regions.     

Osteoblastic bone metastases secondary to adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

The incidence of bone metastases secondary to adenocarcinoma of the exocrine pancreas is unknown since radiological studies of the bones during life, routine bone scintigrams or extensive examination of the skeleton at autopsy is rarely undertaken in the absence of specific clinical indications. Symptom-producing bone metastases are relatively uncommon; a review of the literature suggests that the vast majority are osteolytic in nature with only a few isolated case reports of purely blastic deposits. In the authors' experience osteoblastic bone metastases are commoner than is generally recognised. Of 12 patients with symptom-producing bone deposits secondary to adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, five (41.6%) were purely blastic in nature. The clinical, radiological and pathological findings in these five cases are reported in order to emphasise that the pancreas is a potential source of purely blastic bone metastases and should be considered as a possible primary site in patients who present initially with osteoblastic bone deposits of unknown origin.     

Detection of cervical metastases of thyroid medullary carcinoma by MoAb anti-CEA scintigraphy and immunohistochemistry

Four patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) were examined using anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) scintigraphy. Two patients had positive and two normal scintigraphic findings, although all the patients had elevated blood test markers (calcitonin or CEA). One patient with clinical suspicion of MTC metastases had only a faintly positive anti-CEA image, although single-photon emission tomographic scanning was used to increase the sensitivity and resolution of the method. Therefore, digital image processing of the planar images was performed to obtain more detailed information. The analysis revealed distinct accumulation of the activity at the right side of the neck at 20 h post administration. The specificity of the antibody binding in the malignant cells was confirmed after surgery by immunohistochemical staining of the tumour specimens for CEA. Both conventional and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed distinct positive staining, indicating that the results obtained from the anti-CEA scanning showed specific binding of the labelled antibody in the neoplastic tissue.     

Radioactive iodine treatment in medullary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Elevated levels of basal and stimulated calcitonin are commonly seen in hereditary and sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) following total thyroidectomy. The cause of these high levels can be residual thyroid tissue, possibly with C-cell hyperplasia, and/or residual micro-MTC foci. MTC does not have the ability to concentrate radioactive iodine. However, radioactive iodine trapped by thyroid follicular cells may affect the neighbouring parafollicular cells. AIM: To investigate the effect of radioactive iodine treatment as adjuvant therapy to surgery in seven patients with persistent elevation of basal and stimulated calcitonin levels. METHODS: Pentagastrin testing was performed in each case immediately before surgery and at intervals of 6 months over a maximum period of 5 years (range, 44-60 months) after surgery. RESULTS: A significant decrease in basal and stimulated calcitonin levels was observed in three patients whose disease was localized to the thyroid gland at the final visit. In the remaining four patients, who initially had lymph node involvement at surgery, basal and stimulated calcitonin levels were decreased significantly in only one. At follow-up, of the three patients who showed no decrease in basal and stimulated calcitonin levels, two developed further regional lymph node and distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with persistently elevated basal and stimulated calcitonin levels, radioactive iodine treatment may be the therapy of choice for C-cell hyperplasia and/or micro-MTC after optimal thyroid surgery, especially if the disease has not spread beyond the thyroid gland.     

甲状腺癌骨转移模型的研究

甲状腺癌是内分泌系统最常见的恶性肿瘤,其发病率逐年上升,虽然该病预后较好,但若发生骨转移,患者10年生存率将明显降低.目前,甲状腺癌发生骨转移的机制尚不明确,对甲状腺癌骨转移的研究不仅具有重要的临床价值,也有很重要的科研价值.甲状腺癌骨转移动物模型的建立是研究甲状腺癌骨转移机制和治疗的基础,根据其建立方法可分为自发性、化学诱导性、转基因诱导性和移植性4种.     

甲状腺癌骨转移模型的研究

甲状腺癌是内分泌系统最常见的恶性肿瘤,其发病率逐年上升,虽然该病预后较好,但若发生骨转移,患者10年生存率将明显降低。目前,甲状腺癌发生骨转移的机制尚不明确,对甲状腺癌骨转移的研究不仅具有重要的临床价值,也有很重要的科研价值。甲状腺癌骨转移动物模型的建立是研究甲状腺癌骨转移机制和治疗的基础,根据其建立方法可分为自发性、化学诱导性、转基因诱导性和移植性4种。     

Localization of hepatic metastases by radiolabelled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody and meta-iodobenzylguanidine in a patient with medullary thyroid carcinoma

Sonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations did not detect recurrence or metastases of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in a patient with a rapidly rising serum calcitonin concentration after total thyroidectomy. Scintigraphy with technetium-99m labelled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody, ^99mTc-colloid and iodine-131 metaiodobenzylguanidine indicated liver metastases. The three scintigrams were to some extent discrepant but from the combined information the diagnosis of hepatic metastases could be established; it was subsequently verified by sonography and aspiration biopsy. This case demonstrates the usefulness of applying nuclear medicine imaging methods for the localization of hepatic MTC metastases.     

甲状腺髓样癌的超声诊断

目的探讨超声在甲状腺髓样癌（MTC）的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析我院经病理证实的38个甲状腺髓样癌及83个甲状腺乳头状癌结节的声像图表现,以106个良性结节为对照组,组间差异使用卡方检验。结果甲状腺髓样癌结节声像图表现为实性（100％）,低或极低回声（97．4％）,边缘规则（57．9％）,呈圆形或卵圆形（63．2％）,结节内伴钙化（63．1％）,粗大钙化（34．2％）,微小钙化（28．9％）,合并颈部淋巴结转移（52．6％）;与甲状腺乳头状癌相比,甲状腺髓样癌多表现为边缘规则,呈圆形或卵圆形,易发生淋巴结转移,结节内钙化多为粗大钙化（P〈0．05）。结论甲状腺髓样癌具有一定的声像图特点,超声检查有助于甲状腺髓样癌的诊断和鉴别诊断。     

甲状腺髓样癌靶向治疗的研究进展

甲状腺髓样癌（MTC）是起源于甲状腺C细胞的恶性肿瘤,因其细胞功能的特殊性,治疗主要以及时甲状腺根治性外科手术为首选。但多数患者即使早期也易发生转移,且细胞又缺乏钠碘共同转运体的表达,不能进行放射性碘治疗。近年来,酪氨酸激酶抑制剂靶向治疗的临床应用不断扩大,同时放射性核素靶向治疗及其他靶向治疗正进入一个快速发展的时期,为MTC的治疗带来了契机。笔者重点阐述近年来MTC靶向治疗方面的研究进展。     

Somatostatin receptor scintigraphy for early detection of regional and distant metastases of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.

Three patients are described who had regional and distant metastases of medullary thyroid cancer detected by somatostatin receptor scintigraphy but not by CT; two had minimal disease that was amenable to surgery. The first patient had been followed for 2 years before having a repeated scan and positive CT, with subsequent surgical removal of metastatic paratracheal nodes. The plasma calcitonin level, however, did not approach normal values after surgery, and a third scan showed persistence of focal uptake in the left paratracheal area of the lower neck, whereas CT was negative. At repeated exploration, a tumor mass of medullary carcinoma, embedded in lymphatic tissue, was removed. Nine months after the last surgical procedure, calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen levels were normal. The second patient underwent microdissection of the mediastinum and removal of two metastatic nodes that were demonstrable only by the scintigraphic technique. The plasma calcitonin level subsequently became normal. The third patient, with multiple endocrine neoplasia IIB and associated pheochromocytoma, had bony metastatic involvement of the left shoulder, demonstrable initially on somatostatin receptor scintigraphy and subsequently with radioiodinated metaiodobenzylguanidine but not on CT.     

Cystic lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to illustrate and discuss the sonographic spectrum of surgically proven cystic nodal metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma. By correlative evaluation of the sonographic imaging findings to gross pathology and histology, our purpose was to provide useful hints to differentiate cystic lymph node metastases from other benign cystic neck lesions such as branchial cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sonographic examinations of 74 patients (47 women, 27 men; mean age, 49 years) with 97 histologically confirmed cystic lymph nodes metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma were included in the study. The anatomic relationship of the nodes relative to the primary tumor was recorded, and all cystic nodes were qualitatively categorized as either simple (purely cystic) or complex (thickened outer wall, internal nodules, internal septations, and calcifications). All imaging findings were compared with gross pathologic specimens. RESULTS: Most of the cystic metastases were ipsilateral to the primary tumor (87.8%) and located in the mid or lower jugular chain (73.2%). In 14.9% of all patients, cystic lymph node metastases were the initial manifestation of disease. Only 6.2% of all lymph node metastases were purely cystic (all of these occurred in patients less than 35 years old). Of the 91 complex metastases, a thickened outer wall was present in 35.2% of patients, internal nodules in 42.9%, and internal septations in 57.1%. No calcifications were seen in the 91 complex metastases, and two or more findings were seen in 23.1%. All sonographic findings were verified by surgery. CONCLUSION: In most of the patients, cystic lymph node metastases are characterized sonographically by the presence of a thickened outer wall, internal echoes, internal nodularity, and septations. However, in younger patients, the lymph nodes might appear purely cystic, thereby mimicking branchial cysts and thus requiring biopsy for final diagnosis and therapy planning.