title: Radioiodine imaging in the primary care of thyroid disease.
abstract: There are few indications for ordering a RAIU or a thyroid scan in a primary care setting. In suspected hyperthyroidism, a sensitive thyrotropin assay should be the initial test ordered. If the thyrotropin level is low or suppressed, and the diagnosis of thyroiditis vs Graves' hyperthyroidism is not clear, a RAIU test is appropriate. In the case of a euthyroid nodular goiter, fine-needle aspiration is the most accurate initial test to evaluate for malignancy. The primary indication for a scan in the case of a euthyroid nodular goiter is a low or suppressed thyrotropin level, because malignancy is rare in a hot nodule. If thyroid cancer or congenital hypothyroidism is encountered, referral to an endocrinologist is probably the most expedient and cost-effective way to proceed.
authors.affiliation: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Roy E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes