Thyroid Scan: About This Test

What is it?

A thyroid scan uses a radioactive tracer and a special camera. The tracer can be swallowed or can be injected into a vein. It travels through your body, giving off radiation signals. The camera “sees” the signals and can measure how much tracer the thyroid absorbs from the blood.

Why is this test done?

A thyroid scan is done to:

• Help find problems with the thyroid gland.
• Check a thyroid nodule.
• See whether thyroid cancer has spread outside the thyroid gland. A whole-body thyroid scan will usually be done for this evaluation.

How do you prepare for the test?

You may need to stop eating for several hours before the test. If the test is being done to check for thyroid cancer, you may have to eat a low-iodine diet for several days before the test. Your doctor may have you stop taking thyroid medicines for some time before this test.

If the radioactive iodine will be used as the tracer for your scan, you will take it as a capsule 4 to 24 hours before your test.

Tell your doctor if you are or may be pregnant. If you are breastfeeding, ask your doctor or radiologist if you will need to pause breastfeeding after the test. You may want to pump enough breast milk before the test to get through 1 to 2 days of feeding. Certain radioactive tracers used in this test can get into your breast milk and are not good for the baby.

How is the test done?

• The tracer used in this test is either radioactive iodine or technetium. You might swallow a dose of iodine 4 to 24 hours before the scan. Or you might be given technetium in a vein (intravenously) in your arm 30 minutes to 2 hours before the scan.
• For the scan, you will lie on your back with your head tipped backward and your neck extended.
• A special camera takes pictures of your thyroid gland from three different angles.
• For a whole body thyroid cancer scan, the camera will scan your body from head to toe.

How long does the test take?

After you get the tracer, you may have a scan about 30 minutes later. Or you may need to return up to 24 hours later for one or more scans. The scan itself usually takes less than 30 minutes.

What happens after the test?

• Most of the tracer will leave your body through your urine or stool within a day. So be sure to flush the toilet right after you use it, and wash your hands well with soap and water. The amount of radiation in the tracer is very small. This means it isn't a risk for people to be around you after the test.
• The radioactive tracer used in this test can get into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed your baby for 1 or 2 days after this test. During this time, you can give your baby breast milk you stored before the test, or you can give formula. Discard the breast milk you pump in the 1 or 2 days after the test.
• You can go back to your usual activities right away.

What are the risks of a thyroid scan?

Allergic reactions to the radioactive tracer are very rare. Anytime you're exposed to radiation, there's a small chance of damage to cells or tissue. That's the case even with the low-level radioactive tracer used for this test. But the chance of damage is very low compared with the benefits of the test.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and contact your doctor if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to keep a list of the medicines you take. Ask your doctor when you can expect to have your test results.