Clinical significance of extra-thyroid Tc-pertechnetate uptake before initial radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: To analyse the clinical characteristics of extra-thyroid Tc-pertechnetate uptake in order to explore the effect of the phenomenon on radioactive iodine (RAI) therapy for differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and its clinical significance.

Methods: This study retrospectively selected patients with DTC and extra-thyroid Tc-pertechnetate uptake. The clinical features, location, location count and extra-thyroid Tc-pertechnetate uptake distribution were analysed, combined with the uptake rate, stimulated thyroglobulin (sTg) level, post-therapy whole-body scan and curative effect.