New PET tracer could spot hidden thyroid cancer

NCT ID NCT02856347

Completed Diagnosis Sponsor: Institut Claudius Regaud Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a special PET scan tracer called 18F-DOPA can better detect leftover medullary thyroid cancer in lymph nodes after surgery, compared to standard imaging. Twenty-four adults with elevated thyrocalcitonin levels (a sign of residual disease) received the tracer and underwent PET/CT scans. The goal was to see if this method finds more true positive nodes, which could help doctors decide on further treatment.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: 18F-DOPA (a radioactive tracer for PET scans)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could improve detection of residual medullary thyroid cancer, guiding more precise follow-up and treatment decisions.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage study (24 participants) focused on imaging accuracy, not treatment. The tracer may not prove better than existing methods, and results may not apply to all patients.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Carcinoma, Medullary medullary thyroid gland carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MEDULLARY THYROID CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

CHU Haut-Lévêque

Bordeaux, France
CHU Limoges

Limoges, France
CHU Timone

Marseille, France
ICM Montpellier

Montpellier, France
Institut Claudius Regaud

Toulouse, 31059, France

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