Diagnostic Tests

Radioactive Iodine Scan (RAI)
Thyroid cells are designed to take up iodine, and therefore a whole body scan following the administration of radioactively labelled iodine is a very sensitive test for the detection of normal and most cancerous thyroid cells both in the neck and throughout the rest of the body. It also gives information on the function of those thyroid cells. I¹²³ or I¹³¹ are the isotopes used in this test.

I¹³¹ whole body scan after radioactive iodine treatment showing neck nodes (arrow) with thyroid cancer.