The role of nuclear medicine and other imaging modalities in Article - 1

The role of nuclear medicine and other imaging modalities in hyperthyrodism - Article Example In clinical practice different hyperthyroid conditions such as Graves’ disease, hyperthyroid goiter, and other conditions such as toxic multinodular or nodular goitre need assessment of activity of the gland. In this review, contemporary literature has been reviewed to update current knowledge on this topic. This assignment reveals that radionuclide imaging is an important diagnostic modality in the workup of hyperthyroid disorders, but despite that, in some cases the diagnostic yield is better with ultrasonography or PET scanning. In some cases, combined use of these imaging investigations pinpoints the diagnosis in a more suitable manner. Review of these articles and the knowledge apparent may be used to frame a guideline of advice regarding imaging practice in this area. The thyroid gland produces two hormones, namely, thyroxin (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). These are known to play important physiological roles in the human body. Anatomically, the thyroid gland is located in the neck, in front of the trachea. It comprises of two lobes, right and left, connected by a narrow bridge of thyroid tissue, known as isthmus. It is a very highly vascular organ. The normal adult thyroid gland consists of follicles lined by thyroid follicular cells that contain large amount of thyroglobulin. This serves as the protein precursor of the thyroid hormones (Broome, 2006). Endocrinologically, increased need for thyroid hormone leads to a signal pathway mediated by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) leading to release of active hormone from a bound state with thyroglobulin to a free state, eventually being secreted into the blood stream. When there is hypersecretion of thyroid hormones due to any cause, the condition is known as hyperthyroidism. Usually hyperthyroidis m is indicated by an elevated level of TSH. Therefore, in clinical practice the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism is made by finding an abnormally elevated TSH level which