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Patient Preparation
No fasting is required for Technetium
scanning of the thyroid gland.
Patients must be off iodine-containing drugs, including radiographic
contrast (x-ray dye) The minimum time interval between
prior iodine administration and scanning varies from one week
(e.g. iodine solution) to 4 weeks (Synthroid) to 2-10 years (oil-based
Myelogram). If the patient has had an IVP or a CT with IV contrast,
a thyroid scan should not be attempted for 4-6 weeks. Many other
medications interfere with scanning (PCN, antihistamines, Amiodarone,
etc.). Make sure that all medications that the patient is taking
are listed on the requisition.
Exam Procedure
The patient will receive an injection into a vein in
their arm. Imaging will start approximately 15 minutes post-injection.
The patient will lie on their back on an imaging table with the camera
positioned above them. The image takes approximately five minutes.
After imaging, a nuclear medicine physician may examine the gland.
We may then take additional images to look at a certain part of the
gland in detail. The exam may take up to 30 minutes.
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