Thoracic 131I uptake after previous pneumonectomy in patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer.

In patients treated for differentiated thyroid cancer with radioiodine (131I), abnormal uptake on post-therapeutic whole-body scan may lead to repeated administration of 131I. Uptake not linked to thyroid cancer but to other conditions should be recognized so that patients are not overtreated. We describe 3 cases of unilateral thoracic 131I uptake in patients previously treated by pneumonectomy for lung cancer, without evidence of persistent lung cancer.