Thyroid Scan

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 Definition:

    Thyroid scan is a nuclear medicine test that uses a radioactive tracer( iodine or technetium) to examine the structure and function of the thyroid gland.





Indications:

  1. To find the cause the overactive thyroid gland
  2. To rule out carcinoma thyroid
  3. To identify nodules or growths in thyroid gland
Contraindications:

  • Pregnancy 
  • Breastfeeding mothers

How it is done:
    Thyroid scan is done by swallowing a dose of iodine 4 to 24 hrs before the scan or by giving technetium intravenously 15-30 mind before the scan.
  
    A special camera (gamma scintillation camera) takes pictures of the thyroid gland from 3 different angles.Tbe test will take 30 minutes.

Result:
  1. Normal scan shows a small butterfly-shaped thyroid gland about 5 cm long and 5 cm wide with an even spread of radioactive tracer in the gland 
  2. An abnormal thyroid scan shows a thyroid that is a smaller or larger than normal. It shows areas where the activity is more (hot nodules).
  3. Cold nodules may be related to thyroid cancer

Nurse's Interventions:

Pre-procedure Care:
  1. Monitor vitals and obtain an informed consent
  2. Explain the procedure and inform that the level of radioactive medication is not dangerous and will not cause any side effects
  3. Assess any allergy to sea foods or iodine
  4. Assess whether the patient had undergone any test using radioactive material or iodine dye for the last 4 weeks because this can change the result of the scan
  5. Check with the physician regarding discontinuing medications containing iodine, 14 days before the test and the need to discontinue thyroid
  6. Instruct the patient to maintain an NPO status after midnight on the day of the test
  7. Advise the patient to remove jewelry, dentures or other metals around the neck and upper body because they may interfere with the image
  8. Ensure that the female patient is  not pregnant  or breastfeeding
Post-procedure Care:
  • Monitor vitals
  • Instruct the patient to flush the toilet twice and wash the hands thoroughly after urination for 24 hrs, because the radioactive iodine is excreted through the urine
  • The patient can do his regular activities and can have a normal diet after the scan

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