Parathyroid scintigraphy findings in chronic kidney disease patients with recurrent hyperparathyroidism

Background Parathyroidectomy (PTX), either subtotal or total with forearm autografting, is a well-established treatment for refractory renal hyperparathyroidism (RHPT). However, 20–30% of patients develop persistent or recurrent disease. Obtaining accurate localization before reoperation is difficult. Patients and methods The study group comprised 21 consecutive adult patients (18 undergoing haemodialysis and 3 with a renal graft) imaged using 99mTc-sestamibi/123I subtraction scintigraphy. Of the 21 patients, 12 had undergone one previous PTX and the other 9 between two and four parathyroid operations. All patients had symptoms and signs of severe RHPT. The mean serum PTH level was 1,142 pg/ml. 99mTc-Sestamibi and 123I images were recorded simultaneously. Imaging views comprised a planar view of the neck and mediastinum, followed by a magnified pinhole view over the thyroid bed area. If parathyroid ectopy was detected, SPECT or SPECT-CT was performed. The forearm was imaged in case of autograft. Results Parathyroid scintigraphy was negative in one patient and positive in the other 20 (sensitivity 95.2%). One patient had uptake corresponding to two unresected parathyroid glands. Recurrence at the site of the partially resected gland or autograft was seen in 11 patients. However, six of them had a second 99mTc-sestamibi focus corresponding to a supernumerary parathyroid gland. Seven other patients had a supernumerary parathyroid gland as the sole cause of relapse. Three of the supernumerary glands showed major ectopy (intrathyroidal, low mediastinal, undescended within the vagus nerve). One patient had parathyromatosis with multiple parathyroid nodules scattered over the left side of the neck. Reoperation was possible in 13 patients, with no false-positive findings. Conclusion Many patients referred with the hypothesis of hyperplasia of a subtotally resected parathyroid gland or autograft were found to harbour a supernumerary parathyroid gland missed at the initial surgery

Feasibility and long-term results of focused radioguided parathyroidectomy using a "low" 37 MBq (1 mCi) (99m)Tc-sestamibi protocol

Aim of the present study was to investigate the feasibility and long-term results of focused radioguided parathyroidectomy using a "low" 37 MBq (1 mCi) (99m)Tc-sestamibi dose protocol compared to conventional "high 740 MBq (20 mCi) (99m)Tc-sestamibi dose protocol" in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The data of focused radioguided surgery obtained in a group of 320 consecutive PHPT patients with high probability of the presence of a solitary parathyroid adenoma (PA) were studied. All patients underwent preoperative imaging work-up of double-tracer (99m)Tc-pertechnetate/(99m)Tc-sestamibi subtraction parathyroid scintigraphy (Sestamibi scintigraphy) and high resolution neck ultrasound (US). In 301/320 patients (96.6%) focused minimally invasive radioguided surgery was successfully performed by administering a "low" 37 MBq (1 mCi) (99m)Tc-sestamibi dose in the operating room 10 minutes before operation. No major intraoperative complications were recorded. Focused radioguided surgery required a mean time of 32 min and a mean hospital stay of 1.2 days. Local anesthesia was applied in 75 patients, 66 of whom (88%) were patients older than 65 years with comorbidities contraindicating general anesthesia. No case of persistent or recurrent PHPT was observed during post-surgical follow-up (range = 18–70 months; mean +/- SD = 15.3 +/- 9.1 months). Radiation exposure dose to the operating surgeon was 1.2 μSi/hour with the "low 37 MBq (1 mCi) (99m)Tc-sestamibi dose", and less than 1.0 μSi/hour for the other operating-room personnel. Focused low dose radioguided parathyroidectomy is a safe and effective means to localize parathyroid adenomas in patients affected by solitary PA thus reducing by 20 fold the radiation exposure dose to the patients and operating room personnel

Modern PET imaging for paragangliomas: Relation to genetic mutations

International audienceParagangliomas (PGL) are neural crest-derived tumours that are found along the autonomic neural network throughout the body and can be multiple and/or metastatic. Nuclear medicine imaging in combination with conventional imaging is required to fully delineate the extent of the disease. The performance of molecular imaging modalities is widely dependent on tumour biology

Thyroid cancer recurrence in the HiLo trial

International audienc