Warthin-Like Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma With Coincidental Ipsilateral Warthin Tumor of the Parotid Gland Detected on 131I-SPECT/US and 18F-PET/US Fusion Imaging

A 66-year-old woman was referred with an incidental finding of a bilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma after thyroidectomy. On the right side, a Warthin-like variant was observed. After radioiodine therapy, whole-body scan revealed an unclear iodine uptake on the right-sided neck. For further clarification, I-131-SPECT/US and F-18-PET/US fusion imaging were performed, unambiguously revealing iodine and glucose uptake within a hypoechoic lesion located in the parenchyma of the right parotid gland. Surgical excision confirmed a Warthin tumor ipsilateral to the Warthin-like variant of the papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Because the extensive imaging, targeted minimal-invasive surgery was possible.

Automated summary

A 66-year-old woman had an incidental finding of a bilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma after thyroidectomy. A Warthin-like variant was observed on the right side. Further imaging tests revealed iodine and glucose uptake within a hypoechoic lesion in the right parotid gland. Surgical excision confirmed a Warthin tumor ipsilateral to the Warthin-like variant of the papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Targeted minimal-invasive surgery was possible due to extensive imaging.