ABSTRACT
Objective: Lung metastases are common in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Post-therapeutic 131I-whole-body scan (WBS) was conventionally administered after the radioactive iodine treatment (RAI) of DTC lung metastases. This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of WBS imaging on the RAI of DTC lung metastases. Methods:DTC patients (n=60) with lung metastases treated with 131I were retrospectively included. Before treatment, the thyroid function was assessed. Neck and chest computed tomography (CT) was performed, and WBS was inspected. Patients with lung metastases were classified into negative and positive subgroups according to the imaging of 131I WBS, and the relative influencing factors were analyzed. Results:Univariate analy-sis showed that age and chest CT imaging, which revealed pulmonary fibrosis, calcification, and patchy shadows, were related to WBS imaging. Binary variable logistic regression analysis revealed that pulmonary fibrosis (OR=0.175, P<0.001) and calcification (OR=0.088, P<0.05) went against the development of WBS. Conclusion:WBS imaging on RAI of lung metastases was not obvious in the el-derly. The fibrosis, calcification, and patchy shadows of the lung were not conducive for WBS imaging. The fibrosis and calcification of the lung were the main factors that affect WBS imaging.