Thyroid scan

OUTLINE 1. Principle of investigation

2. Radiophamaceutical and mechanism of uptake

3. Indication and contraindication

4. Patient preparation

5. Steps of investigation

6. Basic imaging intrepretation

6. BASIC IMAGING INTREPRETATION
Case 1 : Normal thyroid scan

Case 1 : Normal thyroid scan

Finding:
Butterfly shape
Homogenous uptake throughout
The right lobe is often larger than

the left
Size of each lobe: 5 cm in length and
2 cm in width
Case 2 : Grave’s disease

Case 2 : Grave’s disease

Finding:
thyroid enlargement with uniform

diffusely increased uptake of both lobes

often with a prominent pyramidal lobe
Case 3 : Nodular toxic goiter

Case 3 : Nodular toxic goiter

Finding:
The thyroid scan shows uptake in
the nodule but suppression of the

remainder of the gland

Case 4 : Multinodular toxic goiter

Case 4 : Multinodular toxic goiter

Finding:
The thyroid scan shows high
uptake within hyperfunctioning

nodules but suppression of the

extranodular nonautonomous tissue
Case 5 : chronic thyroiditis

Finding: vary in imaging

Diffusely uniform increased uptake
coarse, patchy, focal or diffuse non-

homogenous uptake
Case 6 : subacute thyroiditis

Finding:
Markedly depressed radioiodine uptake
Case 7 : Ectopic thyroid tissue

May occur in:

neck
base of the tongue

(lingual thyroid)
pelvis (struma ovarii)
retrosternally in the region
of the mediastinum
(substernal goiter)
Case 7 : Ectopic thyroid tissue
May occur in:
neck
base of the tongue
(lingual thyroid)

pelvis (struma ovarii)
retrosternally in the region
of the mediastinum
(substernal goiter)
Case 8 : Thyroid agenesis

Case 9 : Congenital organification defect

Finding:
The thyroid scan shows
enlarage gland in normal position

and diffusely increased uptake in
both lobes (because the trapping
mechanism of the gland is
intact)
24-hour radioiodine scan usually
shows no activity in the thyroid
Case 10 : Thyroid carcinoma

Finding: Cold nodule

Case 11 : Metastatic thyroid cancer

Pulmonary metastases from thyroid carcinoma

Case 11 : Metastatic thyroid cancer

Osseous metastases from thyroid carcinoma

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