[Clinical value of radionuclide imaging in differentiate the origin of cervical mass].

Objective: To study the clinical value of thyroid imaging in differentiate the origin cervical mass.

Method: Sixty-nine patients with cervical mass were subjected to 99mTc-pertechnetate imaging. 99Tc-MIBI hot spot imaging and perfusion imaging were performed in some of patients with cold or cool nodules. The findings of thyroid imaging were compared with follow up and histopathologic results.

Result: Thirty-three of 69 patients were found with thyroid nodules, 36 patients mass were outside thyroid. Twelve of 33 thyroid nodules were found to be subacute thyroiditis. Two cases regarded as thyroglossal duct cyst were found to be ectopic thyroid glands. Twenty-seven of 36 masses out side thyroid were thyroglossal duct cysts.

Conclusion: 99m Tc-pertechnetate imaging, 99mTc-MIBI hot spot imaging and perfusion imaging are useful to differentiate the origin of cervical mass, and differentiate ectopic thyroid from thyroglossal duct cyst.