Radiology, Vol 155, 231-235, Copyright © 1985 by Radiological Society of North America
Parathyroid adenomas evaluated by Tl-201/Tc-99m pertechnetate subtraction scintigraphy and high-resolution ultrasonography
GG Winzelberg, JD Hydovitz, KR O'Hara, KM Anderson, E Turbiner, TS Danowski, RD Lippe, GA Melada and AM Harrison
Thallium-201/technetium-99m pertechnetate subtraction scintigraphy of the
parathyroid glands was performed in a prospective study of 33 patients who
had undergone bilateral neck exploration for elevated serum calcium and
serum parathyroid hormone levels. In 31 cases, the Tl- 201/Tc-99m
subtraction technique yielded an overall sensitivity of 81%, specificity of
99%, and accuracy of 94% for identifying solitary parathyroid adenomas.
Tl-201/Tc-99m subtraction scintigraphy correctly identified 73% of
parathyroid adenomas weighing less than 499 mg, 79% of those weighing
500-1,499 mg, and 100% of adenomas weighing more than 1,500 mg. In a
subgroup of 24 patients with solitary parathyroid adenomas who underwent
both scintigraphy and high-resolution sonography, the sensitivity,
specificity, and accuracy of both procedures were similar.
