evaluation of the efficacy of standardized uptake value (suv)shape scheme for thyroid volume determination in graves’ disease: a comparison with ultrasonography

Objective(s): in this study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of thyroid volume measurement using 99mtc pertechnetate singlephoton emission computed tomography (spect) images, acquired by the standardized uptake value (suv)shape scheme designed by our expert team.methods: a total of 18 consecutive patients with graves’ disease (gd) were subjected to both ultrasonographic and 99mtc pertechnetate spect examinations of thyroid within a fiveday interval. the volume of thyroid lobes and isthmus was measured by ultrasonography (us) according to the ellipsoid volume equation. the total thyroid volume, determined as the sum of the volume of both lobes and isthmus, was recorded as tvus (i.e., thyroid volume measured by us) and set as the reference. the thyroid volume was defined according to our suvshape scheme and was recorded as tvss (i.e., thyroid volume determined by the suvshape scheme). the data were analyzed using the blandaltman plot, linear regression analysis, spearman’s rank correlation, and paired ttest, if necessary.results: the values of tvss (40.2±29.4 ml) and tvus (43.0±34.7 ml) were not significantly different (t=0.813; p=0.43). the linear regression equation of the two values was determined as tvus= 1.072 × tvss − 0.29(r=0.906; p<0.01).conclusion: the new scheme, i.e., suvshape scheme, exhibited potential for the measurement of thyroid volume in patients with gd.