 | | |
Department | | Nuclear Medicine |
| | |
Procedure/Test Name | | I 131 Thyroid Uptake and Scan |
| | |
Procedure Overview/Details | | For additional information:
Radiology Info website
Your physician has requested that you have a thyroid uptake. This is a simple, non-invasive way to evaluate the function of your thyroid gland as well as evaluate the size, shape, and location of your thyroid. The test requires the ingestion of a very small amount of a radioactive form of iodine. The radioactivity associated with this test is neglible.
After a few short questions, you will be given a pill to swallow. There are no side effects from this pill.
You will be free to go, and asked to return in two hours.
When you return two hours later, the technologist will place a gamma probe over your thigh and over your thyroid gland for one minute a piece to evaluate your thyroid function.
You will be free to go, and asked to return the following day.
Upon your return the following day, the same procedure will be repeated as above. You will receive a small injection in the vein of your arm of another radioactive isotope. You will also have a picture of your gland taken, in which you will be asked to lie on a table with the gamma camera over your thyroid gland. The four pictures should take approximately 3 to 5 minutes each. |
| | |
Preparation | | You are not allowed to eat or drink for 4 hours prior to your appointment.
If there is any chance you are pregnant, we will need to know.
If you have had contrast exams in the past 6 weeks, we will need to wait until the contrast is out of your system.
If you are currently on any thyroid medication, we need to know the name of the medication. Certain medications must be discontinued prior to the exam.
Thyroid Preparation List
Off for one week:
ACTH: Adrenocorticotropic hormone – Pituitary hormone that stimulates the cortex of the adrenal glands (see cortisone)
Amiodarone: Anti-Arrhythmic agent used to treat a wide range of cardiac tachyarrhymias.
Butazolidin: Phenylbutazone, used in the treatment of acute rheumatic disease, anti-inflammatory
Pentothal: Sodium thiopental an ultra short acting anesthetic used intravenously
Perchlorate: Thyroid blocking agent ( used usually on children )
Propylthiouracil (PTU): Antithyroid drug used in the treatment of hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis and thyrotoxicosis. Also employed for preoperative therapy and in cases where surgery is contraindicated.
Sulfonamides: Antibiotics i.e. Bactrim, Septra
Tapazole: Methimazole, Potassium Iodine, Propylthiouracil. Blocks the ability of iodine to combine with tyrosine for T4.
Off for 2 weeks:
Dinitrophenol: An isomeric compound formerly used in making dyes
Iodine solution (Lugol’s): Used in iodine therapy and for the protection of the thyroid gland from radioactive iodine.
Kelp: Any member of the brown seaweeds
SSK ( Super saturated potassium iodide )
Off for 3 weeks:
Triiodothyronine (Cytomel, Tetroxin, Triostat): One of the two forms of the principle hormone secreted by the thyroid gland
Thyroid Extract ( Synthroid, Proloid, Levothroid, Eltroxin, Levo-T, Levoxine, Levoxyl, Oroxine):
Barium swallow
Off for 4-6 weeks:
Intravenous contrast agents: CT with contrast, etc.
6-08 |
| | |
After Procedure Instructions | | There are no special instructions to follow after your procedure. |
| | |
Directions for Departments | | Directions from PARKING RAMP(Preferred Entrance):
Enter the six story parking ramp on College Avenue. No matter where you park, take the elevator to the third floor. Once on the third floor, you can enter the Robert C. Neldberg building using the large set of automatic doors. Once in the building, continue walking down the hallway until you reach the enclosed skywalk that will take you across the street. Cross College Avenue by this skywalk and turn left at the first hallway. Take the elevators “R,S,T” to the first floor. Proceed straight to the first hallway and turn left. Radiology office window is on your right.
Directions from PARKING LOT A:
Park in Parking Lot A (the parking lot which is to the east of the Robert C. Neldberg building, 580 W. College Avenue). Directly across the street is the “East Entrance”, this is labeled by a brown and white sign. Enter through the East Entrance and go to the main doors directly in front of you. Once in the hallway, take a right. Go all the way to the end of this hallway, and then take a left. Continue down this hallway until you reach the elevators labeled G&H on your right hand side. Take these elevators up one floor to the first floor. Radiology is on your left. Check in at the Radiology office window. |
| | |