Thyroid Glands that are Both Ectopic

Chien Ke^*
*Correspondence: Chien Ke, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, University of National Yang-Ming, Taipei, Taiwan, Email:

Introduction

Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine that involves the use of radioactive substances to diagnose and treat various medical conditions. It is a non-invasive technique that uses small amounts of radioactive material, known as radiopharmaceuticals, to provide detailed images of the body's internal organs and systems. Nuclear medicine is used to diagnose and treat a range of medical conditions, including cancer, heart disease and thyroid disorders [1].

Description

Thyroid scan is a type of nuclear medicine test that is used to evaluate the function and structure of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck, which produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism. A thyroid scan can help diagnose conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules. In a thyroid scan, a small amount of a radioactive substance, usually iodine-131 or technetium- 99m, is injected into the patient's vein. The substance then travels to the thyroid gland, where it is taken up by the thyroid cells. The radioactive substance emits gamma rays, which are detected by a special camera called a gamma camera. Before the test, the patient may be required to fast or avoid certain foods and medications that can interfere with the test results. The patient may also be asked to stop taking thyroid medication temporarily, as it can affect the results of the scan. During the test, the patient lies on a table while the gamma camera takes images of the thyroid gland from different angles. The camera does not emit any radiation, so the test is safe and painless. The test usually takes about 30 minutes to complete.

We looked at which radiopharmaceuticals were used in various time periods, their relative frequency of use and typical values of the administered activity in order to reconstruct reliable occupational radiation doses related to nuclear medicine or doses received as patients from radiopharmaceuticals over the course of the past five decades. The range of activity administered to adult patients undergoing diagnostic nuclear medicine procedures in the United States between 1960 and 2010 is documented in this paper, which provides information on the shifting patterns of clinical use of radiopharmaceuticals and their range of administration. Thyroid scan and thyroid uptake, brain scan, brain blood flow, lung perfusion and ventilation, bone, liver, hepatobiliary, bone marrow, pancreas and kidney scans, cardiac imaging procedures, tumor localization studies, localization of gastrointestinal bleeding and nonimaging studies of blood volume and iron metabolism are among the 15 diagnostic imaging procedures that are presented here. Information on the overall utilization of radiopharmaceuticals were gathered utilizing key witness meetings and complete writing surveys of commonplace controlled exercises of these analytic atomic medication studies. Key informants' responses regarding the relative use of radiopharmaceuticals concur with published research. Reconstruction of occupational and personal medical radiation doses from diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals to members of the U.S. radiologic technologist's cohort, as well as radiation doses from occupational or patient radiation exposures to other U.S. workers or patient populations, will be done with the help of this study's findings.

After the test, the patient may resume normal activities immediately. The radioactive substance used in the test usually leaves the body within a few hours or days. The test results are usually available within a few days and are interpreted by a radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist. A thyroid scan can help diagnose various thyroid conditions. If the thyroid gland is functioning normally, the scan will show a uniform distribution of the radioactive substance throughout the gland. If there is an overactive area in the thyroid gland, known as a hot spot, it may indicate hyperthyroidism. A hot spot can be caused by a condition known as Graves' disease, which is an autoimmune disorder that causes the thyroid gland to produce too much hormone. Alternatively, a cold spot on the scan may indicate an underactive area in the thyroid gland, which may be caused by hypothyroidism or a thyroid nodule.

Thyroid nodules are small lumps that can form in the thyroid gland. Most thyroid nodules are benign, but some can be cancerous. A thyroid scan can help determine the nature of the thyroid nodule. If the nodule takes up the radioactive substance, it is considered a hot nodule and is usually benign. However, if the nodule does not take up the substance, it is considered a cold nodule and may require further evaluation. Thyroid scans are generally safe and well-tolerated. However, as with any medical test, there is a small risk of side effects or complications. The radioactive substance used in the test can cause allergic reactions in some people, although this is rare. There is also a small risk of radiation exposure, although the amount of radiation used in the test is considered safe [2-5].

Conclusion

In conclusion, nuclear medicine is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and treatment of various medical conditions. Thyroid scans are a type of nuclear medicine test that can help diagnose and evaluate thyroid conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and thyroid nodules. Thyroid scans are safe and well-tolerated and provide important information that can help guide treatment decisions. If you have any concerns or questions about nuclear medicine or thyroid scans, you should discuss them with.

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

References

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