What Is the Radioactive Iodine Uptake Test?
The radioactive iodine uptake test is a method of finding out how your thyroid gland is working. Iodine is a crucial building block for thyroid hormone and the thyroid gland will take it up from the blood. In the uptake test, a small test amount of radioactive iodine is given by mouth, and the amount which is taken up by the thyroid is measured 24 hours later. Radioactive iodine is concentrated inside thyroid cells exactly as normal iodine, and can be used to diagnose and treat thyroid problems. This will confirm thyroid function, and establish if your thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroid) and needs treatment. How Can Hyperthyroidism Be Treated? The method of treatment may depend on the cause of the hyperthyroidism. There are two common forms of treatment. These are medicines (antithyroid drug or beta-blockers) and definitive treatment (radioiodine therapy or surgery). What Medicines Are Used? Antithyroid medicines prevent thyroid hormone from being produced, but do not treat the
