Which thyroid cancer is typically associated with a cold nodule on radionuclide uptake scanning?

Which thyroid cancer is typically associated with a cold nodule on radionuclide uptake scanning?

• A. Papillary
• B. Anaplastic
• C. Medullary
• D. Follicular

Answer: (D)

Radionuclide thyroid scans show which nodules trap iodine. Hot nodules take up tracer and are usually benign autonomously functioning tissue, while cold nodules do not take up much tracer and raise concern for nonfunctioning or malignant tissue. Follicular carcinoma is classically associated with a cold nodule because these cancers often arise from follicular cells but lack the iodine-trapping function of normal thyroid tissue, so the lesion appears cold on the scan. While other cancers can be cold as well, this pattern is the most characteristic and helps explain why a cold nodule points toward follicular carcinoma.

Radionuclide thyroid scans show which nodules trap iodine. Hot nodules take up tracer and are usually benign autonomously functioning tissue, while cold nodules do not take up much tracer and raise concern for nonfunctioning or malignant tissue. Follicular carcinoma is classically associated with a cold nodule because these cancers often arise from follicular cells but lack the iodine-trapping function of normal thyroid tissue, so the lesion appears cold on the scan. While other cancers can be cold as well, this pattern is the most characteristic and helps explain why a cold nodule points toward follicular carcinoma.