Comparison of Radiopharmaceuticals for Thyroid Scintigraphy
| Radionuclide | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| 99mTc-pertechnetate | Less expensive | Trapped but not organified |
| More readily available | Potentially misleading when activity is in esophagus or vessels | |
| Shorter examination time | Poor image quality when uptake is low | |
| 123I-iodide | Better for visualization of retrosternal thyroid tissue | Higher cost |
| Yields better images when uptake is low | Potentially less convenient for delayed imaging at 24 h | |
| Less readily available | ||
| Generally longer imaging times |