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Because the thyroid absorbs iodine from the blood stream, and since it is a radioactive isotope, it can be easily visualized, so you can see how strongly the thyroid is absorbing it.

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Q: Why is iodine-131 used to assess thyroid function?
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What procedures are used in diagnosing thyroid disorders?

Sonograms and computed tomography scans (CT scans ) help to determine the size of the thyroid gland and location of abnormalities. A nuclear medicine scan may be used to assess thyroid function


What are thyroid function tests used for?

help diagnose an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), and an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism), evaluate thyroid gland activity, monitor response to thyroid therapy


What color tube is used for thyroid testing?

There are several tests done for thyroid function. They require different tubes.


What color tube used for thyroid testing?

There are several tests done for thyroid function. They require different tubes.


What are the noninvasive techniques to assess certain aspects of the body structure and function?

palpation, auscultation, and percussion are used to assess certain aspects of body structure and function


Why is iodine important for proper thyroid function?

It is used by the Thyroid gland to produce its hormones called: T1, T2, T3, and T4. If not enough iodine is available for it to produce these hormones a swelling of the Thyroid will develop called "Goiter".


What is used in the diagnosis of thyroid disease?

Thyroid function tests (TFTs) are the main diagnostic criteria for a thyroid disease. These are however done in the face of other clinical findings and patients symptoms (differs for hypo and hyperthyroidism)


What is iodine used for in the body?

The main use of iodine in the human body is that it makes the hormones that the thyroid needs to function properly. The thyroid hormones control the metabolism and many other important functions of the body.


What is tetrazolium dye and what is its function?

Tetrazolium dye is used in cell biology to determine which cells are viable. It is used in cancer treatment to assess the sensitivity of tumor cells to radiation.


Can you get cancer in the thyroid?

T3 (Triiodothyronine) tests are useful in diagnosing hyperthyroidism and the severity of it. This is because patients who are hyperthyroid have an elevated T3 level. The American Thyroid Association says thyroglobulin (Tg) is a protein produced by normal thyroid cells and also thyroid cancer cells. This test is most often used for patients who have had surgery for thyroid cancer because it helps monitor them after treatment.


What does the thyroid function tests reveal?

It depends- if you have a healthy thyroid gland, then it just reveals healthy thyroid tissue. It can also tell if your thyroid gland is over-active or under-active, producing too much or too little thyroxin which is a condition correctable by medication. In the unlucky event of you having thyroid cancer, it will reveal the presence of malignant cells, although it should be added that if caught early enough, this is normally completely treatable. Even if the gland has to be removed, the patient can continue to live normally with regular injections of thyroxin (rather like diabetics with insulin injections).


How iodine is used in both the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disease?

Tc99m and I131 arent used in thyroid uptake and scan. Specically I123 is used to evaluate thyroid uptake and is also used to perform a scan mostly in addition to a pinhole collimator. Tc99m can be used just for the purpose of size and shape of thyroid but ultrasound is more specific for that and does not introduce a dose of radiation to the patient.