MedicineNet.com
About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map
November 21, 2009
MedicineNet home Picture Slideshows Diseases and conditions Symptoms and signs Procedures and tests Medications Health and Living Picture Image Collection MedTerms medical dictionary
home > thyroid center > thyroid a-z list > thyroid scan index > thyroid scan article
Font Size
A
A
A



Thyroid Scan

Medical Author: Ruchi Mathur, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stoppler, MD

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid is a gland that makes and stores essential hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate of chemical reactions (metabolism) in the body. It is located in the anterior neck just below the Adams apple.

Thyroid Gland

The thyroid gland is the, is the main part of the body that takes up iodine. In a thyroid scan, iodine is labeled with a radioactive tracer, and a special camera is used to measure how much tracer is absorbed from the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. If a patient is allergic to iodine, technetium can be used as an alternative.




Next: How is the thyroid scan performed? »

Printer-Friendly Format  |  Email to a Friend


Suggested Reading by Our Doctors
MedicineNet Doctors
  • levothyroxine sodium, Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid - Learn more about Levothyroxine Sodium (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Levothroid, Unithroid), including a description, generic and brand names, drug class and mechanism, preparations, storage, reasons for prescription, dosing, drug interactions, effect on pregnancy and nursing mothers, and common side effects.
  • Thyroid Blood Tests - Read about thyroid blood tests, which are used to diagnose disease of the thyroid such as hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism, as well as point to other diseases of the thyroid gland.
  • Hypothyroidism - Learn about Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) including causes, symptoms (such as weight gain, fatigue, and depression), diagnosis, and treatment.
Read more Thyroid Scan related articles »

Latest Medical News


Privacy Policy

Women's Health

Find out what women really need.

Are you Depressed? Take the Quiz

Your Guide to Symptoms & Signs: Pinpoint Your Pain


From WebMD

Healthy Resources
Featured Centers
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

Thyroid Scan

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis »

Introduction to Hashimoto's thyroiditis

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States. It is named after the first doctor who described this condition, Dr. Hakaru Hashimoto, in 1912.

What causes Hashimoto's thyroiditis?

Hashimoto's thyroiditis is a condition caused by inflammation of the thyroid gland. It is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body inappropriately attacks the thyroid gland--as if it was foreign tissue. The underlying cause of the autoimmune process still is unknown. Hashimoto's thyroiditis tends to occur in families, and is associated with a clustering of other autoimmune conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, and celiac disease. Hashimoto's thyroiditis is 5-10 times more common in women than in men and most often starts in adulthood. Blood drawn from patients with Hashimoto's throiditis reveals an increased number of antibodies to the enzyme, thyroid pero...

Read the Hashimoto's Thyroiditis article »




Latest Thyroid News


Health categories:

Slideshows | Diseases & Conditions | Symptoms & Signs | Procedures & Tests | Medications | Health & Living | News & Views | Medical Dictionary

Popular health centers:

Allergies | Arthritis | Cancer | Diabetes | Digestion | Healthy Kids | Heart | Men's Health | Mental Health | Women's Health | More...

Publications:

ePublications (PDFs) | XML News via RSS | Audio Podcasts | Email Newsletters

MedicineNet.com:

About Us | Privacy Policy | Site Map | WebMD® | Medscape® | eMedicine® | eMedicineHealth® | RxList®

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

©1996-2009 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. Notices and Legal Disclaimer.
MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.