A thyroid scan uses a small amount of radioactive material to diagnose diseases of the thyroid gland. The patient ingests radioactive iodine, which is absorbed by the thyroid gland and evaluated by equipment. The scan can detect if the thyroid gland is functioning normally, its size, and any lumps that could indicate cancer. The scan is performed in three stages, and there are minimal radiation risks but a risk of allergies and harm to the fetus or nursing baby for women.
A thyroid scan, also called a thyroid scan and radioactive iodine uptake test or simply a thyroid uptake test, is a type of nuclear imaging test. A small amount of radioactive material is used during this test to help diagnose diseases of the thyroid gland. The test itself is simple, but it must be done over two days to get accurate information about your thyroid.
Nuclear imaging tests are those that use small amounts of radioactive material to act as a “tracer” inside the body. In the case of a thyroid uptake test, the material used is radioactive iodine. Several hours before the scan, the patient ingests a carefully measured amount of radioactive iodine, and this material is used within the body like regular iodine. The material is absorbed by the thyroid gland and can then be evaluated by equipment that detects radioactive material.
Thyroid scans are used to determine if the thyroid gland is functioning normally. An underactive or overactive thyroid will require less or more iodine, respectively, and this can be detected by the scan. A thyroid uptake scan can also detect the size of the thyroid gland and whether any lumps have formed within the gland which could indicate the presence of cancer.
Before undergoing a thyroid scan, a patient should ensure that their doctor has their complete medical history. This includes information about any medications the patient is taking and if they have any allergies. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should inform their doctor, as the scan can be harmful to fetal development.
The thyroid scan is performed in three stages. The first step is to swallow a small pill that contains radioactive iodine. This is usually done in the morning. Between four and six hours later, a scan is done to detect traces of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland. The third and final step, a second thyroid scan, is done the next day.
During the scan, the patient lies on their back, under the scanning equipment. The equipment is calibrated to detect radioactive iodine and passes over the patient to detect the location of the radioactive iodine within the body. This information is then transferred to a computer, which generates images of the thyroid gland, showing where the iodine is located. These images can be interpreted by a doctor to determine the size of the gland and how it works.
There are some risks associated with having a thyroid uptake scan. The radiation risk is extremely low, as the amount of radioactive iodine used is minimal. The greatest risk for the patient is that of allergies to the drugs that are used in the procedure. For women, there is an additional risk of harm to the fetus or nursing baby.
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