A thyroid scan is a nuclear medicine test that uses a radioactive iodine tracer to examine the structure and function of the thyroid gland.

1. Case Study:
Thyroid Whole
Body Scan
Moayyad Alssabbagh
MGQ120003
Master of Medical Physics 2012/2013

2. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
In this Presentation:
• What is Thyroid Gland
• Diseases Affect the Thyroid
• Thyroid Scan. What for?
• The Scan Procedure:
Patient Preparation
The Iodine -131 Preparation
The Imaging Procedure

3. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
The thyroid gland is a
butterfly- shaped endocrine
gland that is normally
located in the lower front of
the neck and wraps around
the front half of the trachea,
having two halves (lobes)
joined by a small tissue bar.
What is Thyroid gland

4. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
The thyroid needs iodine to produce the hormones, which
are secreted into the blood and then carried to every tissue
in the body. Thyroid hormone helps the body use energy,
stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other
organs working as they should.
Thyroid gland: function and iodine

5. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
• Hypothyroidism:
underactive thyroid.
• Hyperthyroidism:
overactive thyroid.
• Goitre: enlarged thyroid.
• Thyroid Nodules: lumps in the
thyroid gland.
• Thyroid Cancer: Malignant
thyroid nodules or tissue.
• Thyroiditis: inflammation of the
thyroid.
Diseases affect the Thyroid gland
It can be summarizing the problems that can occur in the
thyroid as follows:
Goitre

6. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
A thyroid scan is a nuclear medicine test that
uses a radioactive iodine tracer to examine
the structure and function of the thyroid
gland.
The two radioactive isotopes commonly used
are I-125 (35 keV-T1/2=59d) and I-131(=365keV,
=606keV. T1/2=8d . If it used therapeutically).
In general the thyroid scan is done to:
– Check for thyroid cancer
– Evaluate thyroid nodules or Goiter
– Find the cause of an overactive/underactive
thyroid gland
What for?
Dual head Gamma camera
(UMMC)

7. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
Sufficient clarification must be given to the patient before
and after starting the procedure, such as:
1. Stop any thyroid medication and food containing
iodine before imaging.
2. Pregnancy and breast feeding
considerations.
3. Avoiding (children, public, family,
transport ...etc) for …… days.
Thyroid whole body Scan
1. Patient Preparation

8. Thyroid Whole Body Scan

9. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
• Usually I-131 of activity of 5 mCi prepared
mixed with 10 ml of normal-saline for the
patients of thyroid whole body scan.
• The physicist gives the dose orally to
patient in a special place designated for
this purpose.
• The patient asked to leave and a full
instruction given to him as demonstrated in
previous stage.
2. The Iodine -131 Preparation
I-131 vials in shielding container
The given
dose’s
place
Fume hood

10. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
• The patient lied down on a moveable examination table with
his head tipped backward and neck extended.
• The gamma camera starting capturing images of the thyroid
gland from Anterior and posterior (Dual head)
• Three stages were perfumed :
• Total Body scan
• Static scan
• Marker scan
The time required for each stage determined by the computer
according to the total counts that set by the radiographer and
the distance that the gamma camera traverse of the scanned
area.
3. The Imaging Procedure

11. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
A. Total Body scan:
• The peak level of 364KeV and
window size (20%) fixed at
for optimal quality image.
• Total body scan give
indication of cancer spread to
other parts of the body.
• Ant. & Post.
3. The Imaging Procedure (Cont.)

12. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
B. Static scan:
• Same effective energy peak
and window size.
• Only the neck area was
scanned.
• Ant. & Post.
3. The Imaging Procedure (Cont.)

13. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
C. Marker scan:
• to mark the location of neck to locate the thyroid place accurately.
(Ant.)
3. The Imaging Procedure (Cont.)
No spread of cancerous cells have found in this patient

14. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
• The thyroid gland control many functions: heart rate, blood pressure,
and body temperature, growth and development.
• The patient removed thyroid due to cancer and I-131 was used to
diagnose the remaining thyroid and cancer spread to other parts.
• Important instructions and recommendation must be explained and
given to the patient before and after the procedure.
• Radiation protection considerations of I-131 preparation:
– Special separated place
– Volatile solution  Fume hood
– Long half-life  Radioactive waste
– …
Conclusion

15. Thyroid Whole Body Scan
Thank You !
Questions
References:
UMMC, Nuclear medicine department. Dual head gamma camera room.
American Thyroid Association (ATA). (2012, June). Radioactive Iodine. Retrieved June 2013, from
American Thyroid Association: http://www.thyroid.org/radioactive-iodine/
Shomon, M. (2011). Thyroid Disease. Retrieved 2013, from About:
http://thyroid.about.com/library/links/blthyroid.htm
Topiwala, S., & Zieve, D. (2012, June). Thyroid scan. Retrieved June 2013, from MedlinePlus :
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003829.htm
WebMD. (2010). Thyroid Conditions. Retrieved 2013, from WebMD: http://women.webmd.com/picture-
of-the-thyroid