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Thyroid disorders explained

continued from page 6

Radioactive iodine uptake test
Iodine is essential for the production of thyroid hormone, so the thyroid absorbs it from the blood. During a radioactive iodine uptake test, you will swallow a small amount of iodine that has been made slightly radioactive. The thyroid will absorb and metabolise 20 per cent of this iodine within 24 hours. Special equipment is then used to measure the amount of radioactivity over the thyroid gland. If you have Graves' disease, the amount of iodine in the thyroid will be elevated. If you have other forms of hyperthyroidism, such as taking too much thyroid medication or Hashimoto's disease, it will be suppressed.

Diagnosing thyroid nodules
If you have a nodule or swelling in your thyroid you should have the nodule evaluated by a hospital specialist. In addition to ordering thyroid blood tests the doctor will want to examine the structure of your thyroid gland. There are three tests that can provide a structural view of your thyroid:

  • Biopsy. The most accurate test is a biopsy called a fine needle aspirate. A very thin needle is inserted into the gland and at least six samples of tissue are sucked out (aspirated). These samples are then analysed under a microscope, and most of the time (more than 90 per cent) they are non-cancerous.
  • Thyroid scan. As with a radioactive iodine uptake test (described above), for a thyroid scan you would swallow a radioactive chemical (usually iodine or technetium). A special camera is then used to show the size, shape and function of the gland based on how much of the radioactive material was absorbed. This can determine whether the lumps are 'hot' (usually benign, just overactive) or 'cold' (inactive and either benign or malignant).
  • Ultrasound. An ultrasound test uses sound waves to determine whether a nodule is filled with fluid or if it is solid. This test also can find other nodules that can't be felt with a manual examination.


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