Fluorescent thyroid imaging: clinical evaluation of an alternative instrument.

Fluorescent imaging of the thyroid was performed successfully in 43 patients with incident low-energy photons generated by an x-ray tube. The images were comparable in quality and information content to those obtained with 123l or 99mTc pertechnetate. The estimated absorbed radiation dose to the gland is approximately 40 mrads. Fluorescent imaging is a clinically useful means of evaluating the thyroid.