RETAINED ESOPHAGEAL ACTIVITY ON I-131 SURVEY IN PATIENT WITH BENIGN ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE

A 78-year-old woman underwent neck and chest survey for follow-up of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid. Forty years earlier the patient had a thyroidectomy, and 20 years earlier I-131 ablation for recurrent disease. Subsequent neck and chest surveys had been negative. Four years prior to this study the patient had undergone esophageal dilatation for a benign esophageal stricture. Neck and chest survey showed prominent activity in the midline simulating recurrent thyroid carcinoma. The activity cleared after ingestion of water, indicating presence of retained salivary activity in the esophagus. Salivary excretion of I-131 can be detected many days after dosing and is a recognized source of false-positive studies.