Nuclear Medicine
Thyroid Scans
What is a Nuclear Medicine Thyroid
Scan?
A thyroid scan is used to evaluate the health of your thyroid, a
gland in your neck that controls metabolism. A thyroid scan
produces a picture of the gland to help evaluate any inflammation,
or to investigate the cause of an overactive or underactive
thyroid. A radioactive iodine uptake test is performed to
determine if your thyroid is functioning normally and to determine
why thyroid hormone levels may be elevated. A small amount of
a radioactive substance, known as a radionuclide or radiotracer, is
given to you as a pill.
How do I Prepare for this
Test?
-Patients should not take thyroid medication prior to
appointment as directed.
-No seafood 1 week prior to the exam.
-No iodinated IV contrast media (x-ray dye) 8 weeks
prior to the exam.
What to Expect During the Thyroid
Scan?
The technologist will administer a radioactive iodine pill which
you will take and be asked to return in 24 hours.
When you return, you will be asked to lie on the exam table
where the technologist will position a detector, a camera specially
designed to take several images of the thyroid near your neck. This
portion of the test usually takes about half an hour.
An uptake test takes only several minutes and is performed while
you are sitting up. Using a device that resembles a Geiger counter,
the technologist places a probe several inches in front of your
neck, where the thyroid gland is located, and measures the
percentage of radioactivity that is retained by the thyroid
gland.
Our licensed Nuclear Medicine technologists will talk to you in
detail about what you can expect before, during and after the
procedure and answer any questions you may have.
Because patient care is our top priority, we employ equipment
and quality control as well as radiopharmaceutical quality
assurance to insure that we are producing the highest image quality
for both interpretation and diagnosis.
Risks of the Test
Be sure to notify the technologist if there is any chance you
may be pregnant. Radionuclides are unlikely to cause side
effects or allergic reactions for most patients.
Following the Test
There are no restrictions following the test. You may
return to your regular activity after the scan is complete.
Results of the Test
Your ordering physician will receive the results in 24-48
hours. It is important to discuss the results of your scan
with your ordering physician.
