Detection of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid with I-131 MIBG.

Imaging with I-131 MIBG has proved useful for the detection of pheochromocytoma, neuroblastoma, and other neoplasms of neural crest origin. The authors present a case of a patient who was initially diagnosed as having follicular carcinoma of the thyroid in which I-131 MIBG played a key role in leading to the diagnosis of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid. Local and distant metastases were detected using I-131 MIBG imaging. Uptake of I-131 MIBG by medullary carcinoma of the thyroid has both diagnostic and therapeutic implications.