Clinical value of 99mTc uptake rate determination in diagnosis of hashimoto's disease

Objective: To explore the clinical value of 99mTc uptake rate determination for diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease. Methods: 99mTc thyroid imaging was performed on 21 patients with HT hyperthyroidism, 29 patients with HT hypothyroidism and 97 controls. 99mTc uptake rate was calculated. Serum thyroid hormones (FT3, FT4, TSH) and antibodies (TGA, TPO-AB) were determined in all these subjects with CLIA and RIA respectively. Results: Thyroid imaging revealed swelling of the gland and asymmetrical distribution of radioactivity in both the hyper and hypo-thyroidism patients. 99mTc uptake rate was increased in the hyperthyroid group (6.07 ± 4.69), being significantly higher than that in controls (p<0.05). However, the uptake rate in hypothyroid group (1.69 ± 1.00%) was not much different from that of the controls. A cool or cold nodule was observed in 17.2% (5/29) of the hypothyroid patients. Conclusion: 99mTc thyroid imaging and uptake rate determination can accurately reveal the size, shape and condition of radioactivity distribution of the gland as well as presence of any nodule. Combined with serum thyroid hormones and antibodies measurement, the 99mTc study can be of great importance in the diagnosis and management of Hashimoto's disease