FDG Uptake in Metastatic Spreading Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Thyroid

Thyroid work-up including Tc-99m pertechnetate, Tc-99m MIBI scintigraphy, and ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of a 77-year-old man presenting with a rapidly growing swelling of the right neck strongly suggested lymphatic spreading anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Whole body staging with FDG PET-CT showed markedly increased uptake in the right thyroid lobe, in multiple right cervical lymph nodes, in the mediastinum, in both lungs and the skeleton. The final histology after total thyroidectomy and neck dissection revealed metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thyroid. We conclude that FDG PET-CT provides useful information in whole body staging of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the thyroid.