Radioactive iodine (RAI) is a radioisotope used to ablate thyroid gland remnant after thyroidectomy in patients diagnosed with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). A whole body scan (WBS) is performed to not only evaluate for iodine uptake by the native thyroid tissue but also to observe for uptake in other areas of the body, which could be physiological or indicative of iodide-avid metastases. Research has shown a correlation between breast cancer and thyroid cancer. Patients with DTC have been found to have elevated levels of serum prolactin, which could lead to mammary gland dysfunction. In patients with DTC undergoing RAI scanning or therapy, it has been previously observed that patients prepared by thyroid hormone withdrawal have significantly higher breast uptake on whole body scan compared to those prepared by rh-TSH. Considering the impact of prolactin on breast tissue, this study aims to correlate these findings with the lab values and the method of preparation. Accordingly, the research question is as follows: does the method of WBS preparation impact prolactin levels and how does that correlate with breast uptake in patients with DTC undergoing RAI WBS?
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Breast uptake of I-131 on whole body radioactive iodine scan
Timeframe: 10 days after treatment