1. Hyperthyroidism Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Thyroid Disorder Quiz
3. Thyroid Symptoms and Solutions Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Stephanie L Lee, MD, PhD, FACE

Coauthor:

Sonia Ananthakrishnan, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Figure 1 Above: Radioactive iodine scan of a patient with toxic multinodular goiter. Note the patchy and darker appearance of the nodules that are producing excess amounts of thyroid hormone. Compare this to the normal scan shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 Above: Radioactive iodine scan of a patient with subacute thyroiditis during the hyperthyroid phase. Note that there is very little iodine uptake in the thyroid. This is due to inflammation of the thyroid causing release of stored thyroid hormone (causing elevated thyroid hormone levels in the blood) and reduced iodine uptake.

Figure 3 Above: Radioactive iodine thyroid scan. Comparison between scans from the normal patient and a patient with Graves' disease. Note the overall increased uptake throughout the enlarged thyroid gland in a patient with Graves' disease.

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