[Anonymous]

#1027610

My daughter was diagnosed with Graves in July 2001. She had a subtotal thyroidectomy in Sept. 2001. Levels were normal for several months after surgery, but then became high again. No luck with thyroid meds and is taking Enderol again for heart rate. Uptake Scan recently performed was at 97% with increased uptake at the right inferior thyroid lobe and pronounced decreased activity at the left upper thyroid lobe. Also a cold defect left upper thyroid lobe. The report states that the findings are not consistant with Graves so I’m really confused. My daughter is having an ultrasound performed on her thryoid on Tuesday. In laymans terms, what does this report mean and I still don’t understand what a cold nodule is.

[Anonymous]

#1097518

I could not begin to interpret the test for you, but I can give you a definition of a “cold nodule”. When we take the diagnostic form of radioactive iodine, it is drawn into the thyroid, and when the scan is done the distribution of that iodine is shown, and the structure of the thyroid becomes more visible. Any abnormalities in the structure thyroid gland will show up. A cold nodule is a group of cells in the thyroid which absorb no iodine (by contrast, if someone has a ‘hot’ nodule, it will be brimming with radioactive iodine) — so they are abnormal cells. To figure out the nature of a cold nodule, a biopsy is often done. They can be evidence of a malignancy, but that is rare — only about `10% of the time.

Bobbi — NGDF Online Facilitator

[Anonymous]

#1097519

Hello All,

I have a simple question that may seem silly. Can the uptake scan alone determine whether or not you have Grave’s Disease or do you need both an antibody test along with the uptake scan to diagnose Grave’s?

Thank you for your help,

Bleu

[Anonymous]

#1097520

The uptake & scan (along with blood tests for TSH and/or T4) can diagnose Graves’ without an antibody test. It’s the pattern of uptake in the scan that gives the answer. I was diagnosed & treated and have never had an antibody test.

-Ski
NGDF Assistant Online Facilitator

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