MR imaging of recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma

This study used MR imaging for the evaluation of recurrent medulla thyroid carcinoma. A total of 38 MR images were obtained in 20 patients with elevated calcitonin levels to check for recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma. Surgical follow-up was obtained in 11 patients. In eight of 11 cases, surgery confirmed recurrence detected on MR images. In one case, MR imaging failed to demonstrate metastatic mediastinal nodes seen at surgery. In the remaining two cases, surgery confirmed the MR finding of no recurrence. The other nine patients were followed with serial MR images for an average of 26 months postoperatively without evidence of recurrence. This preliminary study has indicate that MR imaging might be a useful alternative to routine surgical exploration in patients with possible recurrent medullary thyroid carcinoma