Prospective comparison of high resolution ultrasonography with technetium sestamibi scintigraphy and operative findings in detection of abnormally hyper functioning parathyroid gland/glands in primary hyperparathyroidism

Abstract

Background:Ultrasonography is cheap, easily available and convenient modality of diagnosis.Methods: We prospectively studied 61 patients with PHPT. Patients preoperatively underwent USG neck and MIBI scan, results were interpreted independently and compaired with intra operative findings.Results:61 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for PHPT were studied. Ultrasonography neck showed correct side in 46/51 (90%) and correct site in 32/51 (63%) patients with single parathyroid adenomas. MIBI scan showed correct side and site of parathyroid adenoma in 46/50 (92%) and 43/50 (86%) patients respectively. Patients with double adenomas USG neck showed positive results in all 5 patient with 100% sensitivity where as MIBI scan showed positive results in four out of five patients (80%). 1 patient with four gland hyperplasia USG picked three out of four enlarged glands while as MIBI scan not picked any of the enlarged glands. Operative findings revealed that right lower parathyroid gland was the most common gland involved (54%) followed by left lower (29%), right upper (6.6%), left upper (0%) and multiple / bilateral (9.6%).Conclusions:USG is an affordable, conventional and useful tool in detecting enlarged parathyroid glands in most of the patients with PHPT, but operator dependant. However, when USG can’t detect enlarged parathyroid gland 99mTc-MIBI Scan is complimentary to it.