Thyroid Uptake and Scan
A Thyroid Uptake and Scan (or scan only), evaluates thyroid nodules, hyperthyroidism,
hypothyroidism and goiter.
The uptake portion evaluates thyroid function.
What to Bring
- Your physician order (your physician may have already sent this to us)
- Personal ID
- Insurance Cards
- Medication List
How to Prepare
- No iodinated contrast media for 6 weeks (CT, EXU, or angiograms)
- No myelogram for 6 months
- Ask your doctor about discontinuing thyroid and anti-thyroid medications
before your exam for 2 weeks.
- Refrain from eating kelp, sushi, and seaweed for 1 week prior.
- Please have nothing to eat or drink 2 hours prior to exam.
- Please inform the technologist if you are pregnant.
- If you wear an on-body device (insulin pump, insulin regulators, Neulasta,
other chemo/insulin devices, etc.), you must inform your technologist.
What to Expect
- Upon arrival, the technologist will explain the procedure and answer any
questions you may have.
- You will be given a small capsule (to swallow) containing a tiny amount
of radioactive material and then asked to not eat for another 2 hours.
This is to ensure maximum absorption of the capsule.
- You will return approximately 6 hours later for 30 minutes of imaging.
- Depending on your doctor’s order, you may also return the following
morning for 5 minutes of imaging.
During the Exam
- You will be lying down on a cushioned table.
- A camera will be placed over your neck.
After the Exam
- You may resume your thyroid medications as prescribed.
- Your study will be reviewed by a Radiologist and the results sent to your
physician. Your physician will discuss these results with you.