A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE UPTAKE OF TECHNETIUM-99m AND IODINE-131 BY THE THYROID GLAND

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Abstract
The uptake by the thyroid gland of 99mTc has been measured 20 min after administration of a tracer dose in seven normal controls and 52 patients with thyroid disease. The mean uptake in normal subjects was 0·96 ± 0·17% of the dose, in patients with non-toxic goitre 2·87 ± 0·39% of the dose, in thyrotoxic patients 16·7 ± 1·9% of the dose and in hypothyroid patients 1·94±0·27% of the dose. The uptake of 131I administered simultaneously with 99mTc was measured after 20 min and 5 h. The 20 min 99mTc uptake correlated well with the 20 min 131I uptake, but less well with the 131I uptake at 5 h. As a test of thyroid function, 99mTc has the advantages of low radiation dose and less inconvenience for the patient if thyroid scanning is also required. However, because of the high background activity in the neck it is necessary to use an isotope scanning technique.

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