The radioactive handkerchief sign. A contamination artifact in I-131 imaging for metastatic thyroid carcinoma. Clin Nucl Med 1990 Jul;15(7):491-4
Date
07/01/1990Pubmed ID
2200627DOI
10.1097/00003072-199007000-00008Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0025166980 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 21 CitationsAbstract
False-positive findings suggestive of metastatic functioning thyroid carcinoma have been well documented in I-131 whole-body imaging. These artifacts are often associated with contamination from radioiodine-containing body secretions. Recently, a contaminated handkerchief on an iodine-131 whole-body scan was reported. In the following study, two additional cases involving the sequestration of I-131 contaminated handkerchiefs in patients' pockets are presented, and the literature regarding these false-positive findings is reviewed. Although rare, this "radioactive handkerchief sign" may cause serious misinterpretation of a focal radioiodine accumulation.
Author List
Pochis WT, Krasnow AZ, Isitman AT, Cerletty JM, Kir KM, Hellman RS, Collier BDMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultFalse Positive Reactions
Female
Humans
Iodine Radioisotopes
Male
Middle Aged
Nasal Mucosa
Neoplasm Metastasis
Radionuclide Imaging
Thyroid Neoplasms
