Thyroid Nuclear Medicine Scan
Definition
A thyroid nuclear medicine scan is a diagnostic procedure to evaluate the thyroid gland, which is located in the front of the neck and controls the metabolism of the body. A radioactive substance that concentrates in the thyroid is taken orally or injected into a vein (intravenously), or both. There are three types of radioactive iodine used in these scans. A special camera is used to take an image of the distribution of the radioactive substance in and around the thyroid gland. This is interpreted to evaluate thyroid function and to diagnose abnormalities. Although other imaging methods exist for evaluating thyroid disease, thyroid scanning is the most commonly used and is the most cost-effective.
Purpose
A thyroid scan can help assess the overall structure and...
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