99m-Tc pertechnetate uptake in the thyroid measured with a scintillation camera: a parameter of thyroid function.
A 99mTc pertechnetate thyroid uptake procedure, using a scintillation camera and a data storage system, is described. After comparison of extrathyroidal activity in several regions below the thyroid, activity in the clavicular regions was preferred for correction of the thyroid uptake measurement. No pertechnetate uptake curve obtained over the initial 15 min after injection was found to be representative of a specific thyroid function, and regional thyroid uptake curves gave only quantitative differences. The 15-min pertechnetate thyroid uptake measurement, with correction for clavicular extrathyroidal activity, correlates well with 131I uptake and is a good parameter of thyroid function, especially in the distinction of euthyroidism and hyperthyroidism.