Evaluation of diseases of the thyroid gland with the vivo use of radionuclides

The thyroid gland is one of the organs frequently studied with nuclear medicine techniques. Over the past several decades, increased attention has been drawn to the association between ionizing radiation and the late development of nodules and cancer of the thyroid gland. Although no association has been reported between diagnostic doses of radiopharmaceuticals and thyroid nodules or cancer, it is advisable to minimize radiation exposure to the thyroid whenever clinical information will not be compromised. Newer radionuclides and techniques yield better diagnostic information, with the delivery of lower radiation doses than techniques commonly used in previous decades. Therefore, recommendations are offered to encourage techniques that reduce radiation dose in thyroid studies with the most commonly used radiopharmaceuticals: [131I] sodium iodide, [/sup 99m/Tc] sodium pertechnetate and [123I] sodium iodide