title: The optimization of nuclear medicine procedures for the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders in developing countries.
abstract: Thyroid disease is common in developing countries and its management is based on the measurement of thyroid function and the investigation of thyroid masses. This report discusses techniques and outlines a strategy for the measurement of thyroid function using radioimmunoassays of thyroid-related hormones in the blood. It makes proposals for the evaluation of thyroid morphology using echography, pertechnetate imaging and fine needle biopsy. Note is taken of the difficulties facing laboratories in developing countries and the International Atomic Energy Agency is concerned with the practical assessment of these recommendations and of any alternative proposals in this field.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003906:Developing Countries; D006042:Goiter / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000032:analysis; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m