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Imhomogeneous distribution & photopenic

Dr. Lupa

Can you please tell me what these two words mean?  I have googled photopenic and there is no clear definition.

Thank you and greatly appreciated!

4 Responses
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97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is likely a multinodular goiter with slightly irregular (nodular) uptake -- inhomogeneous (aka heterogeneous).  It could also be graves disease.  Would need to see the scan and context to differentiate as some radiologists use these terms loosely

Photopenic would be a "cold" nodule - no uptake of iodine.
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97953 tn?1440865392
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Sounds most like a functioning "hot" nodule on the left but the wording suggest the possibility of a small cold nodule in the inferior-lateral portion of the left -- would need to clarify this with the radiologist by looking at the US and I-123 scan side by side.  A "hot" nodule suppresses the uptake in the remaining thyroid tissue.  The low TSH is consistent with a large hot nodule; with the negative antibodies, this is not likely Graves.
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Avatar universal
Also, my autoimmune factors are all normal.  My hormone levels are all normal and my TSH is suppressed.
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Dr. Lupa
Thank you ever so kindly!  This is exactly what I thought it meant.  I am awaiting surgical consultation for total thyroidectomy.  Below is a copy of the uptake scan.  Can you tell me what you think? - Again, thank you ever so much!

Distribution of the radiopharmaceutical demonstrates a large amount of increased uptake of the radiopharmaceutical in the region of the left lobe of the thyroid gland generally, with a rather poor/no trapping of the radiopharmaceutical in the right hemithyroid. Distribution of the radiopharmaceutical in the left hemithyroid does demonstrate inhomogeneous distribution with a tiny photopenic area along its inferior lateral aspect of the left hemithyroid. This is an abnormal appearance. This corresponds to the large nodule as previously described on the ultrasound examination of 29/11/07 and the CT scan dated 5/12/07.

THYROID UPTAKE

55 microcuries of I131 sodium iodide was administered and 24-hour uptake obtained. 24-hour uptake was just above the upper limits of normal at 28%.  
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