[Diagnostic value of 131I-whole body scintigraphy in the after care of differentiated thyroid cancer].

The value of scintiscanning after treatment and of routine control scanning in differentiated thyroid carcinoma was evaluated in a retrospective study for the diagnosis of metastases and recurrencies. Scintigrams after treatment detected 76% of all metastases at the time of primary treatment. In contrast, only 4 (18%) out of 22 late relapses were positive in the radioiodo-scintigram. Three of these had been diagnosed earlier already on clinical grounds. Thus, routine whole-body scintigrams using 2 mCi 131I for the after-care of differentiated thyroid carcinoma is without relevant benefit for patients, and certainly not if an aggressive treatment concept has been followed from the beginning. Whole-body scintigraphy should be used only in exceptional cases. Follow-up care should be based on regular thyreoglobulin assessment using a sensitive and controlled method.