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Hello! I’m Dr. Ramji Rajendran, a radiation oncologist at the Cancer Institute at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. I’d like to talk to you about Thyroid Scan and Uptake.
A thyroid scan provides information about your thyroid’s size, shape and position. During a thyroid scan a radioactive material –called a radiotracer— is swallowed and is absorbed by your body. It travels through the area being examined and gives off energy in the form of gamma rays which are detected by a special camera and computer to create images of your thyroid.
A thyroid scan tests your thyroid’s function. It measures how much radioactive iodine is taken up by your thyroid in a given period of time. You will be given the radioactive iodine in liquid or capsule form. During the exam, you will sit in a chair and a probe will be positioned over your thyroid while a scanner moves over your neck.
To prepare for these tests, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything and to refrain from taking certain medications beforehand. Leave any jewelry at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.
Tell your doctor if there is any possibility you are pregnant or if you’re breastfeeding. Discuss any recent illnesses or other medical conditions, medications you’re taking, and whether you have any allergies. Also, tell your doctor if you’ve had any procedures within the last two months that used iodine-based contrast material.
You may have some concerns about thyroid scan and uptake. However, because the amount of radiotracer used is small, the level of radiation exposure is relatively low and the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs any risk.
To learn more about thyroid scan and uptake, visit Radiology Info dot org.
Thank you for your time!
