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Your doctor has requested a Whole-Body Iodine scan. This booklet will answer some of the questions you may have. 

What is a Whole-Body Iodine scan? 

This study is designed to see if there is any residual thyroid tissue or cancer in your neck area or in any other areas of your body. This will help your physician to better understand the stage of your condition. 

What is involved? 

You will be given two appointments for your test: 

On the first visit (15 – 30 min), a technologist will explain the entire procedure to you and then give you the opportunity to ask any questions. You will be given a small amount of radioactivity either by pill or in the form of a liquid. You will experience no known side effects from this radioactive dose. You can leave the department and will be asked to return (one or two days later) for your scan, as directed by the booking department. This waiting time is necessary as it takes time for the iodine to adequately accumulate in the areas to be imaged.  

On the second visit (1.5 to 2 hours), we will scan your entire body. If you have metal on your clothes or jewelry, you will be asked to change into hospital gowns and remove your jewelry. Please leave all valuables at home. You will be asked to lie down on an imaging bed and a special detector, called a gamma camera will scan your body from your head to your feet. We will also take specialized three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body. 

Thyroid function blood tests are ordered to be done with this scan. Please pay attention and note the dates these are to be done. 

Do I need to prepare for the scan? 

  • Bring your Health card. 
  • Iodinated contrast material may invalidate the results of the test. Therefore, we cannot perform this procedure if you have had any iodinated contrast in the 4 weeks prior to this test.  
  • In preparation for this test, you will be required to either A) stop taking thyroid hormones, or B) continue taking thyroid hormones but follow the Thyrogen program. Your physician will decide and inform you on the best option for your condition. 
  • Thyrogen involves two additional 15 min appointments, one on each day, prior to receiving the radioactive capsule. The nuclear medicine staff will provide a prescription for Thyrogen to your pharmacy. You will be required to pick up the Thyrogen and bring it with you on day one. The technologist will explain the entire procedure to you and give you an opportunity to ask any questions. You will then be given the Thyrogen injection in a muscle in your upper arm. Usually there are no serious side effects from this injection. The next day, you will return for your second injection. On the third day, you will receive your radioactive iodine capsule, followed by your scan 5 days later. 
  • We would like you to dress in clothing that does not have any metal. Please refrain from wearing any jewelry. Please leave all valuables at home. 
  • Please notify our booking office at the time of scheduling your appointment if you have any concerns regarding claustrophobia, lying still, require a mechanical lift for transfer to the imaging bed, have a language barrier or any other special needs, so that appropriate arrangements can be made ahead to provide you with the best possible care. 

Will it hurt? 

You may feel a little pressure in your upper arm, if you are scheduled to receive the Thyrogen injections. Otherwise, the test is painless. 

Is the radiation dangerous? 

The injection contains a small amount of radioactive tracer which emits gamma rays (these are similar to X-rays). The radiation dose is very low and will disappear by itself after a couple of months. The results of your scan will give your doctor useful information about your condition and will help them plan your treatment. The benefits of having the scan far outweigh any potential risk from the small radiation dose.  

Do I need to do anything after the scan? 

If you are travelling across any borders in the two weeks after your scan, please ask us for further advice. Border crossings and airports have very sensitive radiation detectors which may pick up tiny amounts of radioactivity remaining after your scan. We will give you a letter that you can show to customs officials at border crossings or airports. 

Is there anything I should tell the staff before the injection? 

Please tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.  

What about breastfeeding? 

Breastfeeding will need to be interrupted for at least 4 days and may need to be discontinued entirely. It is vital that you ensure that we are aware if you are pregnant and/or breastfeeding. 

How will I get the results of my scan? 

A specially trained doctor will examine the pictures. This is normally done soon after the end of the scan. A report is then sent to the doctor who asked us to do the scan. Your doctor will normally receive the report within one week. You will also have access to the report on MyChart as soon as it is released. 

If you have questions about the scan results or report, please contact your doctor directly. They are best able to interpret the report for you. 

Will this test cost me money? 

No. This test is paid for by the healthcare system. The test costs over one thousand dollars, so please notify the department at 613-761-4831 if you cannot make your appointment. 

What should I do if I cannot make my appointment? 

If you cannot make you appointment, it is important that you notify the department at 613-761-4831 as soon as possible. Failure to make your appointment results in wasting of expensive materials that are ordered especially for your appointment and also reduces availability to other patients. Missed appointments may also result in delays of your treatments. 

Directions and Parking 

Civic Campus  1053 Carling Avenue – 1st Floor Tel.: 613-761-4831, option 8 Hours: Mon. – Fri., 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Directions: From within the Civic Campus, take the “C” elevators to the 1st Floor and follow the signs to Nuclear Medicine. Patients may also ask for directions at the patient information desk. General Campus  501 Smyth Road – Main level Tel.: 613-761-4831, option 8 Hours: Mon. – Fri., 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Directions: From the main entrance, follow the signs on the main level (located at the public elevators). Patients may also ask for directions at the patient Information desk. 
Park in either parking lot off Carling Avenue (P7) or in the multistory parking garage (P1).  Park in the parking garage which is located beside the main entrance just off Smyth Road.  

Parking instructions 

  • All parking lots are automated  
  • Take the parking ticket with you inside.  
  • When you have completed your appointment, you can pay by cash or credit card at one of our pay stations, or you can pay by credit card with express exit at the parking lot exit gates (the grace period after payment to leave facility is 20 minutes). 
  • Payment methods: 
    • Pay stations: Cash or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express). 
  • Maximum parking fee is $13.00 

Visit The Ottawa Hospital’s website for additional directions and parking instructions and maps.

Last updated on: April 26th, 2022