I have a 13 year old daughter that has systems of hyperthyrodism. We are currently waiting on the blood test results and her doctor says she feels that the results will be positive since the physical exam indicates hyperthyrodism, her next doctor appointment is next Friday, June 14.
When she was 3 it was discovered that she had a vascular lesion in
her deudenum. She lost a lot of blood, needed transfusions. She had
every test you could imagine to locate this lesion. On three seperate
occasions she was tested in vitro with radiotracers. Today I have been
investigating on the internet and have come across the following
information:
(http://indy.radiology.u...ucs/Text/GIBleeding.html)
99m-Tc red blood
cells. Inadequate red blood cell labeling is one imaging pitfal that is
identified by intense tracer uptake in the stomach. If free technetium
is suspected, images of the thyroid should be obtained. If these reveal
increased activity with the thyroid glaNd, this is most likely secondary
to free technetium and a poor red cell label (NUCIMAGE).
The imaging did not show where she was bleeding, the sight of the bleeding was discovered with a scope. My question is this, would it be possible that her thyroid could have been damaged by the radiotracers?
I know that you are a very busy man and this is most probably an unlikely letter to receive. If you could find the time between now and next Friday to answer me I would be most grateful. Even if you could steer me in the right path, where I could look on the internet for this information or a book at the library.
Because of her history of bleeding she has not taken any oral medication since she was 5,after it was discovered that even baby Tylenol caused her to bleed. As you can see, if she is hyperthyroid we will need a plan on how to treat her. I don't know if the cause of the thyroid problem would even be significant but my husband and I want to know everything we can about the situation before we make any decisions on her treatment.
If at all possible I would appreciate a prompt reply so we can be prepared for her next doctors appointment.
Sincerely,
Reply ------------------------------------
If I understand your question correctly, you are concerned whether a technetium scan, which was apparently performed in an attempt to identify a bleeding location in the gastrointestinal tract, might have damaged your childs thyroid gland thereby causing hyperthyroidism. First of all, hyperthyroidism is generally caused by an "overactive" thyroid gland - in other words a gland that is hyperfunctional. While it is true that certain radioactive isotopes, most notably radioactive iodine, are occasionally used to ablate active thyroid tissue, the end result is hypothryoidism (an inactive gland), not hyperthyroidism. Technetium scans are occasionally used to study the thyroid gland, but I am unaware of any potential risk to injury to the gland with the doses used in such scans. Likewise, radioactive iodine is commonly used to study the thyroid gland, but the doses used in "scans" are unlikely to cause injury to the gland. On the other hand higher doses of radioactive iodine, can be used to ablate thyroid tissue and this is the basis for it's use in the the treatment of certain hyperthyroid conditions as well as thyroid malignancy.
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Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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