Factor analysis in thallium-201 chloride thyroid studies

Factor analysis was applied to thyroid thallium-201 imaging to get separated image of tumor from normal thyroid tissue. Thirty-eight patients with various thyroid tumors which were histologically confirmed were included in this study. Following intravenous injection of 111 MBq (3 mCi) of 201Tl chloride, thyroid images in 64 frames were taken for 30 to 60 minutes using Toshiba gamma camera system and data were analyzed by 2 or 3 factor analysis. In 28 of 38 patients separated images of the lesions from normal thyroid were obtained and time-activity curves of various shapes corresponding to the lesions were also obtained. When the curves were classified into 3 groups according to their shapes, increasing flat and decreasing, follicular carcinoma did not show increasing shape whilst neither of papillary carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and anaplastic carcinoma showed decreasing shape. The shapes of the curves were thought to be reflected in clearance of the agent from the lesions. Factor analysis in 201Tl chloride thyroid scan provided separated image of tumor from normal thyroid gland automatically and the obtained curves corresponding to the lesions provided information for estimating the characteristics of thyroid tumors. (author)