Your healthcare provider will recommend a thyroid uptake and scan if they need more information about how well your thyroid gland is working. A thyroid uptake and scan can show whether your thyroid gland is producing the right amount of thyroid hormones, or whether it is producing too much or not enough.
It can also show whether you have any nodules on the thyroid that may affect its function. A thyroid uptake and scan reveals the health of your thyroid, and whether the function of this gland could be responsible for symptoms you are experiencing.
We’ll show you how to understand what your thyroid does, along with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, and how a thyroid uptake and scan can assess your risk for thyroid cancer. Let’s get a closer look.
Understanding your thyroid function
Questions about thyroid function usually center around whether your thyroid is in balance, which can mean your thyroid is producing either too much or too little hormone. Your healthcare provider can better diagnose and treat these conditions once they have a clear understanding of your thyroid health.
What does the thyroid gland do? What is a thyroid imbalance?
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in your neck. It produces hormones that help regulate how your body uses energy, and helps determine your heart rate and body temperature.
A healthy thyroid maintains a balance of hormones that affect how we feel and how our body functions. An imbalance of thyroid hormone means it is producing too much or too little of the hormone needed to effectively regulate bodily functions.
How can a thyroid imbalance impact my energy levels, weight, and mood?
Although we don’t often think about the thyroid gland, it has a significant effect on how our bodies use energy. If your thyroid produces too much hormone, it is called overactive, or hyperthyroidism.
Overactive thyroids can make us feel anxious, irritable, tired, and nervous, can cause a fast or irregular heartbeat, and contribute to problems sleeping. If the thyroid produces too little hormone, it is called underactive, or hypothyroidism. An underactive thyroid can cause us to feel depressed, to gain weight, to feel tired, and to be sensitive to cold.
What does a thyroid uptake and scan show my healthcare provider?
Your healthcare provider uses a thyroid uptake and scan to discover more about the health of your thyroid. The uptake and scan will show the size and shape of your thyroid, and whether any nodules are present, using iodine to find whether your thyroid may be overactive or underactive.
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Identifying thyroid nodules and abnormalities
Understanding what causes thyroid nodules and abnormalities can help ease our anxiety about being diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Nodules are not uncommon and can exist for a variety of reasons, most of which are readily treatable or require no treatment. We may have a nodule on our thyroid without even knowing it, while other times we can feel or see a lump in our neck that indicates a growth on the thyroid.
What is a thyroid nodule? What causes them?
A thyroid nodule is a growth on the thyroid gland. A nodule can be caused by different factors, and can be solid or filled with fluid. Most thyroid nodules are harmless, but if they grow large they may become uncomfortable or interfere with swallowing.
The presence of nodules could mean several different things: low iodine levels, excessive growth of thyroid tissue, cysts, inflammation. Less commonly, nodules can be a sign of thyroid cancer, or an underlying autoimmune disorder called Hashimoto’s disease.
Why does my healthcare provider want to check my thyroid for nodules?
If you are experiencing symptoms such as changes in energy levels, sleep disruption, unexplained weight loss or gain, or increased anxiety, it could be due to a nodule or growth on your thyroid.
Your healthcare provider can learn more about how to treat your symptoms by knowing whether a thyroid nodule may be the cause. They can also rule out more serious conditions by gaining a better understanding of your thyroid health.
How does a thyroid uptake and scan help to detect any potential nodules or growths in the thyroid?
A thyroid uptake and scan uses iodine to help identify nodules or growths on the thyroid. Because the thyroid uses and absorbs iodine, the uptake and scan involves using iodine to highlight areas of the thyroid that are a possible concern. An understanding of the nature of nodules is reached based on how much iodine they absorb.
Areas of your thyroid that might be producing too much thyroid hormone will absorb the most iodine, while areas that produce less thyroid hormone will absorb less iodine, and both will show up on the scan. A camera takes images during the scan so that appropriate treatment, if needed, can be determined.
Diagnosing hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
Your thyroid produces hormones that regulate bodily functions, particularly how your body processes energy. Sometimes the thyroid produces too much of this hormone, and that is called hyperthyroidism. In other cases the thyroid may not be producing enough hormone, which is hypothyroidism.
These conditions affect how our body functions and how we feel. To find out more about your thyroid health, your provider may request blood tests to check hormone levels, as well as a thyroid uptake and scan.
How does a thyroid uptake and scan show whether thyroid hormone production is too high or too low?
A thyroid uptake and scan uses iodine to highlight areas of the thyroid to better understand how the thyroid is functioning. The uptake refers to how much iodine the thyroid absorbs, while the scan takes images that show whether your thyroid is producing too much or too little of thyroid hormone.
If your thyroid is producing too much hormone, it will absorb more of the iodine; if it is producing too little of the hormone, it will absorb less of the iodine and will appear as dark spots on the scan.
How can a thyroid uptake and scan help diagnose hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism means that the thyroid is producing too much thyroid hormone. Sometimes called an overactive thyroid, this condition is measured by how much iodine is absorbed by the thyroid during an uptake and scan. If the thyroid absorbs more iodine than is considered normal, this is likely an overactive thyroid, which points toward hyperthyroidism.
How does this study help to detect the signs of hypothyroidism?
Hypothyroidism means that the thyroid is producing too little thyroid hormone. Sometimes called an underactive thyroid, this condition is measured by how much iodine is absorbed by the thyroid during an uptake and scan. If the thyroid absorbs less iodine than is considered normal, this is likely an underactive thyroid, which points toward hypothyroidism.
Assessing your risk for thyroid cancer
While there are some risk factors that increase the likelihood of thyroid cancer, it can also be present in people with no known risk factors. Risk factors include being exposed to radiation, especially during childhood, family history, and sex (thyroid cancer is most common in women).
How can a thyroid uptake and scan help to identify areas of concern that may indicate cancer?
While a thyroid uptake scan cannot provide a definite cancer diagnosis, it can help identify areas of concern. When iodine is absorbed by the thyroid during an uptake and scan, some areas may not absorb as much iodine as expected.
These areas appear as darker spots on the scan. While nodules do not always indicate cancer, they should be examined further, as the likelihood of cancer is stronger than in other areas.
Can a thyroid uptake a scan tell if an abnormal growth is malignant?
Abnormal growths on the thyroid cannot be positively identified as benign or malignant through an uptake and scan. However, the scan can identify areas of possible malignancy that can then be further examined, usually through a biopsy, to see if malignancy is present.
How does this study help my healthcare provider to make a care plan for treating cancer?
A thyroid uptake and scan is an important step in identifying and treating thyroid cancer. The scan identifies areas of concern, and indicates the overall health of your thyroid, including whether it is overactive or underactive.
The size and location of suspicious nodules can be identified, and details of further evaluation and treatment plan can be developed to best treat the cancer. The uptake and scan is an essential part in helping your healthcare provider know next steps in making sure your thyroid is functioning properly.
How to schedule an appointment with us
Our goal is to offer you and your healthcare provider the most informative results possible, and we make it easy for you to get an appointment.
With numerous locations across South Jersey, you’ll find us conveniently located near major highways and key bridges in the region.
We’ll ensure the entire scheduling process is as effortless as possible for you. Above all, we are here to help you.
Reach out to us at any of the following locations to book an appointment:
Learn more about the board-certified, subspecialized radiologists who read, analyze and interpret the findings here at South Jersey Radiology Associates.
Frequently Asked Questions
The thyroid gland regulates metabolism, energy levels, and overall hormonal balance, making it essential for many body functions.
thyroid imbalance can lead to fatigue, weight changes, and mood swings due to its role in regulating metabolic and emotional health.
This test shows how well your thyroid absorbs iodine and helps evaluate its size, shape, and function.
Thyroid nodules are abnormal growths within the thyroid, often caused by iodine deficiency, genetic factors, or other underlying conditions.
Detecting nodules helps identify potential abnormalities or conditions requiring treatment, such as hyperthyroidism or cancer.
The scan highlights areas of increased or decreased iodine uptake, which can indicate the presence of nodules or other abnormalities.
It measures iodine absorption to reveal whether your thyroid is overactive (hyperthyroidism) or underactive (hypothyroidism).
Yes, it identifies suspicious areas in the thyroid that may need further evaluation for malignancy, helping guide treatment plans.