Institution: | 1. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China;2. Department of Nuclear Medicine & Minnan PET Center, Xiamen Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Teaching Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China;3. Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of China;4. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China |
Abstract: | ObjectivesWe initiate this comprehensive review to update the advances in this field by objectively elucidating the efficacies of promising radiopharmaceuticals.MethodsWe performed a comprehensive PUBMED search using the combined terms of “thyroid cancer” and “radiopharmaceuticals” or “nuclear medicine”, yielding 3273 and 11026 articles prior to December 31, 2020, respectively.ResultsBased on the mechanism of molecular metabolism, the evaluation of differentiated thyroid cancer and dedifferentiated thyroid cancer is largely centered around radioiodine and fluorine 18 (18F)-fludeoxyglucose, respectively. Further, 18F-L-dihydroxyphenylalanine and gallium 68 DOTATATE are the preferred tracers for medullary thyroid cancer. In dedifferentiated medullary thyroid cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer, 18F-fludeoxyglucose is superior.ConclusionsThe future lies in advances in molecular biology, novel radiopharmaceuticals and imaging devices, paving ways to the development of personalized medication for thyroid cancer patients. |