Thyroid Scintigraphy and Nuclear Medicine

📋 Course Outline

1. Thyroid Function and Disorders
2. Radiopharmaceuticals and Tracer Uptake
3. Thyroid Scintigraphy Interpretation
4. Acquisition and Clinical Indications
5. Parathyroid Physiology and Imaging
6. Thyroid and Parathyroid Clinical Cases
7. Quality Control and Quantification
8. Artefacts, Safety, and Dosimetry

📖 1. Thyroid Function and Disorders

★ Must-know

• The thyroid secretes T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine), regulates energy metabolism, contributes to growth and thermogenesis, and helps regulate body weight.

📌 Hyperthyroidism is characterized by decreased TSH with increased free T4 and free T3, whereas hypothyroidism is characterized by increased TSH with decreased free T4 and free T3.

Further detail

• Hypothyroidism can result from iodine deficiency, destruction of the gland by surgery, irradiation or thyroiditis, or disorders of hormone synthesis.

• Hyperthyroidism can result from:

  • Graves disease
  • acute thyroiditis
  • exogenous thyroid hormones
  • weight-loss medications

💡 Memory Hook

Hypothyroidism lowers T3/T4, whereas hyperthyroidism raises T3/T4.