Preoperative parathyroid gland localization with technetium-99m sestamibi in secondary hyperparathyroidism

• Published in: European journal of nuclear medicine Vol. 24; no. 12; pp. 1494 - 1498
• Main Authors: PONS, F, TORREGROSA, J.-V, VIDAL-SICART, S, SABATER, L, FUSTER, D, FERNANDEZ-CRUZ, L, HERRANZ, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.12.1997
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Endocrine glands. Genital system. Mammary gland; Female; Humans; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary - diagnostic imaging; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary - surgery; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kidney Failure, Chronic - complications; Kidney Transplantation; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Parathyroid Glands - diagnostic imaging; Preoperative Care; Radionuclide Imaging; Radionuclide investigations; Radiopharmaceuticals; Sensitivity and Specificity; Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; Ultrasonography; Endocrinopathy; Radionuclide study; Human; Parathyroid diseases; Parathyroid glands; Preoperative; Localization; Technetium(99mTc) sestamibi; Hyperparathyroidism; Emission tomography
• ISSN: 0340-6997; 1619-7070; 1619-7089
• DOI: 10.1007/s002590050179

Technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy has become a valuable tool in locating parathyroid glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The aim of this study was to evaluate its usefulness in secondary hyperparathyroidism. Twenty patients were injected intravenously with 740 MBq of 99mTc-sestamibi and images were obtained at 15 min and 2 h post injection. All patients underwent parathyroid ultrasonography (US) as well as bilateral surgical neck exploration and 64 parathyroid glands were removed. US revealed at least one enlarged gland in 15/20 patients (75%), while 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy showed focal areas of increased uptake in at least one gland in 17/20 patients (85%). When imaging results for all glands were evaluated according to surgical results, sensitivity was 54% for parathyroid scintigraphy and 41% for US, and specificity was 89% for both imaging techniques. There was a discrepancy between the two imaging modalities in 28 glands (35%). The mean surgical weight of US-positive glands (1492+/-1436 mg) was significantly higher than that of US-negative glands (775+/-703 mg) (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in weight between sestamibi-positive and sestamibi-negative glands. When only sestamibi-positive glands were considered, a positive correlation between uptake and weight was found (r=0.4, P<0.05). In conclusion, parathyroid US and 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy are complementary imaging techniques in the preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid glands in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. The limited sensitivity of the techniques means that patients will still require bilateral neck exploration; therefore routine preoperative parathyroid scanning in renal patients is not justified.