Radionuclide imaging of thyroid nodules

Abstract

Thyroid scintigraphy has been used for many years to evaluate thyroid nodules. The clinical value of thyroid scintigraphy has been established based on the knowledge that (1) functioning nodules have not only increased radioiodine uptake relative to normal functioning thyroid tissue but also have a low probability of malignancy; and (2) thyroid cancers have no or very low (e.g., 1 in 100) radioiodine accumulation relative to normal thyroid tissue. This section presents an overview of thyroid scintigraphy in the evaluation of thyroid nodules (see Table 1). © 2006 Humana Press Inc.