False positive finding on whole-body iodine-۱۳۱ scan secondary to contaminated face mask: an uncommon peril in current COVID pandemic

Covid-۱۹ has changed the practice of present-day medicine. Social-distancing, hand-sanitation and use of face-mask are important measures taken against its spread. Post-thyroidectomy whole-body diagnostic I-۱۳۱ scan is an important preliminary investigation for risk stratification and further management in thyroid cancer. False positive findings on diagnostic scan are not uncommon and must be evaluated to avoid unnecessary work-up and treatment. Clinical and biochemical correlation with adjunct SPCET/CT imaging may differentiate true from false-positive lesions. We report a case of unusual false positive linear neck tracer on whole-body diagnostic I-۱۳۱ scan due to the use of an I-۱۳۱ contaminated face mask.