I've done a thyroid u/s. dr. called and said they found 2 thyroid nodules. now i'm going for a thyroid uptake scan. what will this test do or show?

Tsh: Was your TSH low? If not, a thyroid uptake and scan might not necessary. How big were the nodules? If they are bigger than 1 cm, an ultrasound guided biopsy is a better way to go than an uptake and scan. The scan can show size, shape and location of the gland which you already know from the ultrasound, and the uptake show function of the gland which you know from the labs.

More helpful info.: A radioactive iodine uptake (raiu) test uses a radioactive tracer to measure how much tracer the thyroid gland absorbs from the blood. The test can show how much tracer is absorbed by the thyroid gland and if it is evenly spread in the gland, helping to differentiate what type of nodules you have.

Hot or cold: Thyroid nuclear scan usually with iodine 123 will show whether nodule is active (hot, increased uptake, or nonactive (cold, decreased uptake).More cold nodules are cancer.For patients presenting with thyroid nodules greater than 1 cm. In diameter (up to 20% will be malignant). They should be carefully evaluated, and managed. If greater than 1 cm. Should be closely followed or biopsied.