Thyroid scintigraphy

Special information about this examination

The distribution of the activity injected into the vein in the thyroid is recorded by the radiation it emits using a special thyroid gamma camera. High resolution two-dimensional images (=thyroid scintigram) of the functional thyroid tissue are produced from this.

Indications: evidence of cold (= under functioning) or hot (= over functioning) thyroid nodules and non-typical thyroid tissue. Analysis of the thyroid tissue's entire metabolism activity (quantitative analysis).

Substance used: Technitium 99m.
Activity: ca. 37 to 74 MBq with adults, ca. 4 to 20 MBq with children. The activity is injected into a vein.

General information on nuclear medicine

Nuclear medicine

More information

www.radiologie.de 
www.nuklearmedizin.de

Special preparation:

After consultation, thyroid effective medication should usually not be taken for at least two weeks prior to the examination. Medication containing iodine or iodine tables should also be stopped at least two weeks prior to examination, after consultation.

If x-ray or computed tomography images have been produced of you using an intravenous contrast agent less than three months prior to examination, the iodine contained in the contrast agent may block the thyroid so that it cannot be visualised in the scintigram. In this case, you should inform your referring doctor about this and consult us.

Special additional examination:

Suppression thyroid scintigraphy

Carried out like normal thyroid scintigraphy but after a four week preparation with the administration of thyroid hormones (depending on the type of hormone preparation).

Indications for this: suspicion of hot thyroid nodules (autonomy).

Average total time required for the examination is up to one hour. Thyroid scintigraphy is often combined with an ultrasound examination (sonography) of the thyroid. You should inform us about this when making an appointment by phone so that we can plan this examination in time wise.