Thyroid Scan: The patient is given an iodine isotope in a drink to take. This isotope gets concentrated in the thyroid Scanning and recording is done from there.
This scan tells whether the whole or a part of the thyroid is hyper-or-hypo-functioning. Hyper-functioning or overactive thyroid is indicative of hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease, i.e. of excessive amount of the thyroid hormones in the bloodstream and hypo-functioning or underactive thyroid of diminution of these hormones. If a particular spot in a palpable nodule does not show any activity, it creates a suspicion of cancer.
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy: A needle is introduced into the suspected area of the thyroid and by means of a syringe fixed on the needle, the substance of the thyroid is sucked into the syringe. This may be fluid in case of a cyst, or have cells in it, which when examined histologically, give the diagnosis of the disease.