technetium isotope thyroid scan
Last reviewed 01/2018
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.