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Thyroid Imaging in Dhakuria

Thyroid Scan

Thyroid Scan in Dhakuria

An advanced imaging technique called a thyroid scan is used to examine your thyroid, the gland that regulates your metabolism. It is situated in the front region of your neck. Usually, the scan is performed along with radioactive agents (radionuclide tracers) to assess thyroid function. Radioactive iodine used during thyroid scans is normally absorbed by your thyroid and most forms of thyroid cancer. As the radioactive iodine builds in the thyroid tissue, the emissions are detected by a gamma camera or scanner. The outcome of this test will be used by your doctor to assess the health of your thyroid.

FAQ's

This Thyroid Scan is carried out to:

  • Examine goitre or thyroid nodules

  • Determine the proper functioning of the thyroid gland

  • Find the reason for a hyperactive thyroid gland

  • Examine for thyroid cancer and its spread (infrequently, as there are more reliable tests for this)

You need to inform your doctor if:

  • You have undergone any procedures, including X-rays or CT scans, iodinated contrast material treatments, or operations, in the last two months

  • You are taking any prescribed drugs or consuming other iodine-containing foods or supplements, such as kelp, seaweed, cough syrups, multivitamins, or cardiac drugs

  • Having any iodine, drug, or anaesthetic allergies

  • You are nursing a child

Blood tests to determine the amount of thyroid hormones in your blood may be conducted in the days before your exam. You might be instructed to avoid eating for a few hours before your scan since eating may compromise the precision of the uptake measurement. Remove any accessories and jewellery before the exam or leave them at home. These items might obstruct the procedure. You will be told about any other instructions for the preparation of your scan.

This is how the test is conducted:

A tablet with a trace quantity of radioactive iodine is administered to you. You wait for the iodine to accumulate in your thyroid after consuming it. Usually, the first scan takes place four to six hours after the iodine tablet is taken. Usually, a second scan is performed a day later. You lie on your back on a moving table for the duration of the scan. The scanner is positioned beneath your neck and chest. To get a clear picture, you must lie still. The location and strength of the radiation emitted by the radioactive substance are detected by the scanner. A computer shows thyroid gland pictures. Instead of radioactive iodine, another chemical called technetium is used in other scans.

The location, size, and form of the thyroid gland would all be normal on a thyroid scan. The picture of your thyroid will be uniformly green in colour. Abnormal growths in the thyroid are shown by the red dots in the picture. A thyroid scan that yields normal findings shows no thyroid tissue and indicates no thyroid cancer spread.

An enlarged or misaligned thyroid in a thyroid scan could be a sign of a tumour. Abnormal measurements may also indicate that your thyroid gland is either collecting too much or too little radionuclide.

Thyroid scan abnormalities might also mean:

  • Goitre colloid nodular, a kind of thyroid hypertrophy brought on by insufficient iodine

  • Hyperthyroidism in the form of Graves' illness

  • Painless thyroiditis

  • A toxic nodular goitre is a nodule that has grown on an already-existing goitre.

You need to get in touch with your doctor to find out when to start taking your thyroid medication again after your thyroid scan. Urinating allows your body to expel radioactive iodine. To flush out the radionuclide, it is suggested that you drink more water and empty your bladder often. It could be necessary for you to exercise caution to prevent others from absorbing the substance. For up to 48 hours following the test, your doctor could urge you to flush twice after using the toilet to protect others from radiation exposure. Usually, you may start eating and exercising normally again right after a thyroid exam.
 

The thyroid gland helps maintain various body functions by processing and adjusting the levels of specific hormones. A thyroid scan helps determine the parts of the thyroid gland functioning normally, the overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), or the underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism). Additionally, the scan also helps differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous thyroid nodules.
 

The radionuclide used in thyroid scans contains a tiny but safe quantity of radiation. There won't be much radiation on you—it will be under permissible limits for diagnostic tests. The long-term effects of undergoing a nuclear medicine operation remain unknown.

Rarely do allergic responses to the radioactive substance occur. When they do, the impacts are not very severe. If you are given an injection of the radionuclide, you can have temporary redness and slight discomfort at the injection site.

For women who are pregnant or nursing, thyroid scans are not advised, despite the low and brief radiation exposure.

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