Hyperthyroidism

As one of the largest endocrine glands in the body, the thyroid is a gland in the neck that controls metabolism, a chemical process that regulates the rate at which the body converts food to energy. Essentially, the thyroid controls the rate at which the human body burns energy. It also creates proteins and regulates sensitivity to other hormones. The production of our thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine, control much of this process.

The most common problems related to our thyroid include hypothyroidism, an under underactive thyroid, and hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid. When our thyroid is overactive, too much thyroid hormone is produced, and the metabolism speeds up. This can cause a number of symptoms, including weight loss, hand, tremors, and irregular heartbeat.

What Is a Thyroid Scan and Uptake?

A thyroid scan is a kind of nuclear medicine imaging involving a radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU) that measures thyroid function through small amounts of radioactive material. This process allows us to pinpoint molecular activity within the body, identify disease in early stages , and determine a patient’s response to therapeutic interventions. More specifically, the thyroid scan and thyroid uptake provide information about the structure and function of the thyroid.