Nuclear Thyroid Imaging

This episode evaluates the clinical utility of technetium-99m, iodine-123, and iodine-131 in thyroid imaging and therapy. We compare technetium-99m, trapped but not organified by the sodium-iodide symporter, with iodine-123, the preferred isotope for diagnostic uptake and high-resolution scanning. Finally, we look at iodine-131, which is reserved primarily for targeted thyroid ablation due to its high-energy beta emission, providing a clear framework for selecting the appropriate radiotracer based on diagnostic or therapeutic clinical goals.