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Technetium isotope thyroid scan

Authoring team

Technetium isotope scans complement thyroid function tests by mapping the avidity with which different parts of the thyroid take up the isotope.

Common patterns are:

  • diffuse, homogenous uptake - indicates a normal gland or one where there is diffuse hyperactivity e.g. Grave's disease.
  • fragmented uptake - suggests a multinodular goitre.
  • "cold" nodule - an area of inactive tissue. May be a cyst or a non-functional tumour.
  • "hot" nodule - an area of hyperactive tissue. There is no uptake in suppressed adjacent tissue.

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The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

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