Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Iodine-123 scintigraphy in the evaluation of pediatric thyroid disorders: A ten year experience

  • Originals
  • Published:
Pediatric Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Few studies have been published that describe the role of scintigraphy in the evaluation of the spectrum of pediatric thyroid disorders. Between 1978 and 1987, we studied 280 children with iodine-123 (123I) scintigraphy. Clinical information and follow-up were available in 246. We analyzed the indications for referral and determined whether the information obtained with this technique was useful in subsequent management. Indications for scintigraphy included hypothyroidism, neck masses, hyperthyroidism, and miscellaneous reasons. Scintigraphy was helpful in distinguishing anatomic from functional causes of hypothyroidism. It reliably identified the location of the thyroid gland in patients with neck masses. The functional status of thyroid nodules was readily assessed and was important in directing further treatment. Scintigraphy added little to the management of children with post-irradiation hypothyroidism without a palpable nodule, patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis or Graves disease when the clinical diagnosis was straightforward.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Grieg WR (1973) Radionuclide evaluation of thyroid disease in children. Semin Nucl Med 3: 3

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Heyman S (1981) In vivo radionuclide studies in infants and children with thyroid disease (editorial). Clin Pediatr 20: 440

    Google Scholar 

  3. Heyman S, Crigler JF, Treves S (1982) Congenital hypothyroidism:123I thyroidal uptake and scintigraphy. J Pediatr 101: 571

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Heyman S (1985) Thyroidal uptake of iodine-123 in children using a gamma camera and computer. Clin Nucl Med 10: 690

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Takeuchi K, Suzuki H, Horiuchi Y, Mashimo K (1970) Significance of iodide-perchlorate discharge test for detection of iodine organification defect of the thyroid. J Clin Endocrinol 31: 144

    Google Scholar 

  6. Stanbury JB, Dumont JE (1983) Familial goiter and related disorders. In: Stanbury JB, Wyngaarden JB, Fredrickson DS et al (eds) The metabolic basis of inherited disease, 5th edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 231–269

    Google Scholar 

  7. Friedman AP, Haller JO, Goodman JD, Nagar H (1983) Sonographic evaluation of noninflammatory neck masses in children. Radiology 147: 693

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bachrach LK, Daneman D, Daneman A, Martin DJ (1983) Use of ultrasound in childhood thyroid disorders. J Pediatr 103: 547

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Papanicolaou N, Simeone JF (1988) Clinical correlation of thyroid ultrasonography with radionuclide imaging. In: Gottschalk A, Hoffer PB, Potchen EJ (eds) Diagnostic nuclear medicine, 2nd edn. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, pp 769–777

    Google Scholar 

  10. Scott MD, Crawford JD (1976) Solitary thyroid nodules in childhood: is the incidence of thyroid carcinoma declining? Pediatrics 58: 521

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Hung W, August GP, Randolph JG, Schisgall RM, Chandra R (1982) Solitary thyroid nodules in children and adolescents. J Pediatr Surg 17: 225

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Silverman SH, Nussbaum M, Rausen AR (1979) Thyroid nodules in children: a ten year experience at one institution. Mount Sinai J Med 46: 460

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kirkland RT, Kirkland JL, Rosenberg HS et al (1973) Solitary thyroid nodules in 30 children and report of a child with a thyroid abscess. Pediatrics 51: 85

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Rallison ML, Dobyns BM, Keating FR, Rall JE, Tyler FH (1975) Thyroid nodularity in children. JAMA 233: 1069

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hopwood NJ, Carroll RG, Kenny FM, Foley TP Jr (1976) Functioning thyroid masses in childhood and adolescence. J Pediatr 89: 710

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Reasner CA, Isley WL (1985) Thyroid scanning in patients with suspected thyroid disease. Ann Intern Med 102: 209

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Wolfstein RS (1978) Enigma of the “hyperfunctioning” thyroid carcinoma resolved? (letter). J Nucl Med 19: 441

    Google Scholar 

  18. Favus MJ, Schneider AB, Stachura ME et al (1976) Thyroid cancer occurring as a late consequence of head-and-neck irradiation. Evaluation of 1056 patients. NEJM 294: 1019

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pincus RA, Reichlin S, Hempelman LH (1967) Thyroid abnormalities after radiation exposure in infancy. Ann Intern Med 66: 1154

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Fuks Z, Glastein E, Marsa G, Bagshaw MA, Kaplan HS (1976) Long-term effects of external radiation on the pituitary and thyroid glands. Cancer 37: 1152

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Maxon HR, Saenger EL, Thomas SR et al (1980) Clinically important radiation-associated thyroid disease. JAMA 244: 1802

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sampson RJ (1977) Prevalence and significance of occult thyroid cancer. In: Degroot LJ (ed) Radiation-associated thyroid carcinoma. Grune and Stratton, New York, pp 137–153

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hamburger JI, Miller JM, Garcia M, Meier DA, Stolfer SS, Taylor CI (1981) Is thyroid imaging an overutilized diagnostic procedure? In: Hamburger JI, Miller JM (eds) Controversies in clinical thyroidology. Springer, New York, pp 1–20

    Google Scholar 

  24. Catz B, Perzik SL, Friedman NB, Sacks H (1973) Association of lymphocytic thyroiditis with other lesions of the thyroid. Surg Gynecol Obstet 136: 47

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Treves ST, Larsen R, Pezzuti R (1985) Thyroid. In: Treves ST (ed) Pediatric nuclear medicine. Springer, New York, pp 191–204

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. H. J. Paltiel MD

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Children's Hospital Medical Center, 45229-2899, Cincinnati, OH

  2. D. A. Summerville

    Present address: Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Orlando Regional Medical Center, 1414 South Kuhl Avenue, 32886, Orlando, FL, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nuclear Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA

    H. J. Paltiel MD, D. A. Summerville & S. T. Treves

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    H. J. Paltiel MD & S. T. Treves

  3. Departments of Radiology and Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 45267, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    D. A. Summerville

Authors
  1. H. J. Paltiel MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. D. A. Summerville
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. T. Treves
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paltiel, H.J., Summerville, D.A. & Treves, S.T. Iodine-123 scintigraphy in the evaluation of pediatric thyroid disorders: A ten year experience. Pediatr Radiol 22, 251–256 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02019851

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02019851

Keywords

Search

Navigation