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Utility of Preoperative Radionuclide Scanning for Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Author(s) -
Sinha Christopher K.,
Hamaker Ronda,
Hamaker Ronald C.,
Freeman Stephen B.,
Borrowdale Richard W.,
Huntley Tod C.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199706000-00009
Subject(s) - medicine , primary hyperparathyroidism , hyperparathyroidism , technetium , adenoma , thallium , radionuclide imaging , radiology , nuclear medicine , surgery , chemistry , inorganic chemistry
This study retrospectively reviews 60 cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, 21 of whom underwent technetium 99 sestamibi scanning and 10 of whom underwent thallium 201/technetium 99 pertechnetate scanning preoperatively. The sestamibi and thallium scans demonstrated an 89.5% and a 62.5% sensitivity rate for adenoma, respectively. Neither scan demonstrated hyperplastic glands well. Although the scans localized adenomatous glands to the correct side well, the ability to localize them more discretely was 68.4% and 62.5%, respectively. In cases of solitary adenoma the effect of an accurate preoperative scan on operative time for bilateral exploration was not significant, whereas the experience of the attending surgeon was significant. Also, the cost of the scans at our institution was greater than the cost of the time saved in performing even unilateral neck exploration. Thus preoperative radionuclide scanning is not cost‐effective for the initial exploration of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and is insufficiently sensitive to make routine unilateral neck exploration for adenoma consistently effective.