Thyroid Scan

Radioactive Thyroid Scan, Technetium Scan of the Thyroid

What To Think About

• Blood tests may be done before a thyroid scan to measure the amount of thyroid hormones (TSH, T3, and T4) in your blood. For more information, see the medical tests Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Thyroid Hormone Tests.
• A radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) test may also be done to find problems with how the thyroid gland works, such as hyperthyroidism. For more information, see the medical test Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test.
• Cancer of the thyroid is usually treated with surgery. If the tumor is large, has spread outside the thyroid gland, or has recurred, it may then be treated with very high doses of radioactive iodine. After treating recurring thyroid cancer, a scan of the entire body can be done to see where the cancer has spread.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: August 14, 2008
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
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