What can I expect during scanning of nuclear thyroid?
Nuclear thyroid is a simple, painless diagnostic procedure that checks various thyroid problems. The physician may propose scanning if the patient has a noticeable lump in the throat, chronic pain or symptoms of excessive or insufficiently active thyroid gland. The procedure includes the use of a very small dose of radioactive iodine, namely the iodine-123 isotope and the material time to achieve the thyroid. Gamma beam images are then taken to monitor the thyroid scattering in the thyroid, which can reveal the important traces of the type of thyroid problem. In most cases, the nuclear scanning of the thyroid can be performed in an outpatient diagnostic center in less than one hour.
A person scheduled for nuclear thyroid scanning can be provided special instructions on how to prepare. Some medicines may disrupt iodine so it is important to ask the doctor whether the use of medicines should be stopped or modified in days leading to the formernoon. Most clinics recommend that patients avoid food or drink one to two hours before the test. Metal jewelry can interfere with Gamma Ray, so people should take off earrings and necklaces before entering the device.
iodine radiation can be administered in several different ways, but is usually served in tasteless oral capsule. The patient must generally take capsules about six hours before scanning nuclear thyroid to make enough time to absorb. When it is time for real scanning, doctor, nurse or nuclear medicine technician leads the patient to the examiner and prepares a comfortable bed or chair. Scanning can take up to one hour and patients must remain very calm and avoid speaking until the procedure is completed.
During the scanning of the nuclear thyroid, the gamma rays generate several thyroid pictures. The machine detects radiation emitted from absorbIodine to form a basic outline of the gland and highlighting places where concentrations are particularly high. Some Gamma Ray machines allow you to immediately view images on the computer monitor in the test room. Once the test is completed, the patient may leave the diagnostic center without special restrictions or instructions. The test results are generally available within a few days of the procedure.
doctors can obtain valuable information from the results of the thyroid nuclear scan. The test may reveal that the thyroid is unusually large or swollen, or that a protruding node is present. On the basis of iodine concentrations in specific areas, the physician may determine suspicious matter that may be cancerous. If more or less iodine is absorbed than expected, the patient may suffer from hypo- or hyperthyroidism. The doctor usually encounters the patient to explain the results of the tests. Based on the result, the arrangement can be done for furtherdagonation tests or treatment plans.