Key result
I-131 scan shows false-positive right iliac fossa uptake due to a prior appendectomy scar.
Case Report (n=1)
Intestinal adhesions can accumulate I-131 and cause false-positive activity on whole-body I-131 scans.
Intestinal scars may mimic I-131 uptake on whole-body scans; this case report leaves open their prevalence and differentiation strategies.
The I-131 whole-body scan is a useful test to investigate the presence of metastatic disease of thyroid cancer after thyroidectomy. A 53-year-old woman received I-131 4 months after total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma for postsurgical ablation of the residual tumor cells. Whole-body scan demonstrated focal uptake of I-131 in the right iliac fossa that persisted 2 days later even after administration of laxatives. Computed tomography of this area showed only focal bowel scar presumably resulting from a complicated appendectomy 31 years ago. Intestinal adhesions accumulate I-131 and give false-positive activity on whole-body I-131 scans.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sioka et al. (2006) conducted a case report in Papillary thyroid carcinoma (n=1). I-131 whole-body scan was evaluated on Focal uptake of I-131 in the right iliac fossa. An I-131 whole-body scan demonstrated false-positive focal uptake in the right iliac fossa due to an intestinal scar from a previous complicated appendectomy.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: