At the Thyroid Clinic in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, our patients receive comprehensive care from a team of specialists in nuclear medicine.
Our department handles the full range of thyroid disorders, including both morphological issues (such as thyroid enlargement or nodules) and functional disorders (problems with thyroid hormone metabolism). Common benign thyroid conditions include autoimmune diseases like Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, as well as goiter (thyroid enlargement) and thyroid autonomy.
Malignant thyroid conditions (thyroid cancers) are relatively rare but are also treated and managed within our department.
Thanks to our extensive diagnostic approach, which includes laboratory tests, ultrasound, and scintigraphy, we are equipped to diagnose and treat all thyroid disorders.
During each visit to our clinic, patients will have a consultative discussion with one of our treating physicians. Some thyroid conditions may require not only medication and regular monitoring but also radioiodine therapy or surgical intervention.
For these treatments, our clinic works closely with our department therapy unit and cooperates with the Department of surgery at AKH.
Please bring any previous records and findings, such as laboratory results, thyroid ultrasounds, or scintigraphy reports, as these may help your treating physician make more efficient decisions about your care.
Additionally, please inform us about the current and past use of thyroid medications. We also need to know if you have had increased iodine intake from contrast agents in the past 6–8 weeks (e.g., from angiographies or contrast agents), medications (e.g., Amiodarone, iodine-containing disinfectants), or supplements with significant iodine content.
For the thyroid examination, fasting is usually only necessary for the initial examination. If fasting is required for follow-up appointments, you will be informed accordingly.
Medications can generally be taken as usual, except for thyroid medications (Thyrex, Euthyrox, L-Thyroxine, Combithyrex, Novothyral). However, anticoagulant medications should be discussed prior to any planned fine-needle aspiration.
You will be asked to fill out a medical history form and wait in the clinic’s waiting area until called by your physician. The examination at our thyroid clinic begins with a detailed discussion with your attending physician, during which current symptoms, previous treatments, and any relevant medical history will be reviewed.
Typically, a thyroid ultrasound is needed to assess any morphological changes.
In most cases, a blood sample will also be taken to measure thyroid hormone levels or, if necessary, other lab values.
If there is a suspicion of thyroid dysfunction or morphological changes seen in the ultrasound, a thyroid scintigraphy may be performed. In this procedure, a small amount of a radioactive substance (99mTc-pertechnetate) is injected right after the blood sample is taken. This substance accumulates in the thyroid gland through the bloodstream. After a waiting period, a highly sensitive gamma camera will be used to visualize the distribution of activity in the thyroid gland (and in any nodules).
In some cases, a fine-needle aspiration of the thyroid may be required to obtain cells from nodules for microscopic examination. This is done by using a syringe and ultrasound guidance to puncture the thyroid gland.
After the aspiration, you will need to stay in the waiting room for about 20 minutes to monitor for any bleeding complications.
In general, patients receive their test results and laboratory values by mail.
The thyroid report includes all relevant information, from the diagnosis and treatment recommendations to the next suggested follow-up appointments.
If you have any questions or uncertainties about our findings, you can first discuss them with your primary care physician. Alternatively, you can address any new questions at your next recommended follow-up visit with us.
If the report suggests further monitoring by a specialist, please discuss the thyroid findings we’ve sent with your treating or referring physician.