A thyroid nuclear scan is a painless procedure that uses radioactive iodine to check for thyroid problems. Patients may need to prepare by stopping certain medications and avoiding food and drink before the exam. The scan takes up to an hour and results are usually available within a few days. Doctors can gain valuable insights from the scan, including identifying suspicious masses that may be cancerous and diagnosing hypo- or hyperthyroidism.
A thyroid nuclear scan is a simple and painless diagnostic procedure to check for various thyroid problems. A doctor may suggest a scan if a patient has a noticeable lump in the neck, chronic pain, or symptoms of an overactive or underactive thyroid gland. The procedure involves taking a very small dose of radioactive iodine, specifically the isotope iodine-123, and allowing the material time to reach the thyroid. Gamma-ray images are then taken to trace the dispersion of iodine in the thyroid, which can reveal important clues about what type of thyroid problem a patient may have. In most cases, a thyroid nuclear scan can be done in an outpatient diagnostic center in less than an hour.
A person who is scheduled for a nuclear thyroid scan may be given special instructions on how to prepare. Some medications can interfere with iodine, so it’s important to ask your doctor if medication use needs to be stopped or adjusted in the days leading up to your exam. Most clinics advise patients to avoid eating or drinking an hour or two before the exam. Metal jewelry can interfere with the gamma ray machine, so people should remove earrings and necklaces before entering the facility.
Iodine radiation can be delivered in a number of ways, but is usually given in a tasteless oral capsule. A patient generally needs to take a capsule about six hours before the thyroid nuclear scan to give it ample time to be absorbed. When it’s time for the actual scan, a doctor, nurse, or nuclear medicine technician will lead the patient into an exam room and set up a comfortable bed or chair. The scan can take up to an hour, and patients must remain very still and avoid talking until the procedure is complete.
During a nuclear scan of the thyroid, a gamma ray machine generates several images of the thyroid. The machine detects the radiation emitted by the absorbed iodine to create a basic outline of the gland and highlight the points where the concentrations are particularly high. Some gamma ray machines allow images to be viewed instantly on a computer monitor in the examination room. Once the test is complete, a patient can leave the diagnostic center without restrictions or special instructions. Test results are usually available within a couple of days of the procedure.
Doctors can gain valuable insights from thyroid nuclear scan results. The test may reveal that the thyroid gland is unusually large or swollen, or that there is a protruding lump. Based on iodine concentrations in specific areas, doctors can identify suspicious masses that may be cancerous. If more or less iodine is absorbed than expected, the patient may be suffering from hypo- or hyperthyroidism. The doctor usually meets with the patient to explain the test results. Based on the outcome, arrangements can be made for further diagnostic tests or treatment plans.
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