Thyroid Scan

Thyroid Scan

Hyperthyroidism Slideshow

Medical Author: Ruchi Mathur, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD

• What is the thyroid gland?
• How is the thyroid scan performed?
• When is thyroid scanning helpful?
• What is significant about whether a nodule is "hot" or "cold?"
• Summary

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid is a gland that makes and stores essential hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate of chemical reactions (metabolism) in the body. It is located in the anterior neck just below the Adams apple.

The thyroid gland is the, is the main part of the body that takes up iodine. In a thyroid scan, iodine is labeled with a radioactive tracer, and a special camera is used to measure how much tracer is absorbed from the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. If a patient is allergic to iodine, technetium can be used as an alternative.