Controversy exists concerning the advantages and appropriateness of current imaging modalities of the localization of parathyroid tumors. We conducted a prospective, blinded study to compare the efficacy of 3 different imaging modalities in 40 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT). Patients with HPT were examined preoperatively by computer‐assisted thallium‐201/technetium‐99m scintigraphy (TTS), high‐resolution (GE 9800) computed tomography (CT), and high‐resolution (7.5 MHz) real‐time sonography (US). Each study was performed and interpreted independently. These patients then had a neck exploration and parathyroidectomy which allowed for clinical correlation of pathologic findings with the imaging results. Overall sensitivities of the 3 imaging modalities were TTS‐72%, CT‐72%, and US‐57%, with specificities of TTS‐93%, CT‐92%, and US‐96%. For lesions located below the thyroid (thymic tongue and mediastinum), sensitivities were TTS‐86%, CT‐29%, and US‐20%, all with specificities of 100%. In those HPT patients presenting with prior failed neck explorations, parathyroid tumors were detected with sensitivities of TTS‐88%, CT‐57%, and US‐67%, with specificities of 100%, 71%, and 100%, respectively. TTS with subsequent CT appears to be an optimal imaging strategy for HPT patients with prior failed neck explorations or suspected lesions below the thyroid. Since surgeons experienced in parathyroid surgery have a cure rate of 93% or greater in HPT patients without prior neck exploration, these imaging modalities may not be cost‐effective and thus not indicated for these patients.
The sensitivity of sonography in the detection of renal calculi was tested in a three-phase study in 100 patients. In phase 1, ultrasonographic (US) scanning was performed after review of abdominal radiographs and renal tomograms in 30 patients who had undergone extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL). In this group the sensitivity of US for detecting stones was 98%. In phase 2, scanning was performed in 30 post-ESWL patients without prior review of radiographs or tomograms. The sensitivity of US for stone detection in this group was 95%. In phase 3, sonography was performed in a blinded fashion on a random mix of post-ESWL patients and patients who had undergone urography for reasons unrelated to nephrolithiasis. The sensitivity of US for stone detection in this group of 40 patients was 91%. The overall sensitivity in all three groups was 96%, which was superior to the performance of abdominal radiography and slightly inferior to the combination of abdominal radiography and renal tomography. The ability to detect kidney stones with US depended on stone size but was independent of stone location or patient size. The study findings suggest that US is an effective means for detecting kidney stones in patients with suspected nephrolithiasis.
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