TECHNETIUM TC 99M SESTAMIBI SCAN FOR LOCALIZING ABNORMAL PARATHYROID-GLANDS AFTER PREVIOUS NECK OPERATIONS - PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE IN REOPERATIVE CASES

We used technetium Tc 99m sestamibi for successful preoperative locali zation of abnormal parathyroid glands in nine patients: with hyperpara thyroidism and a history of neck surgery. The intraoperative and patho logic findings were correlated with the preoperative technetium-sestam ibi scan results. These nine patients had had 13 previous neck operati ons, two for thyroid disease, and 11 for hyperparathyroidism. In the t wo operated on for thyroid disease, the Tc-99m-sestamibi scan localize d a parathyroid adenoma. In one patient, the three remaining hyperplas tic parathyroid glands were localized using Tc-99m-sestamibi scan. The other six patients had 10 operations for hyperparathyroidism; the Tc- 99m-sestamibi scan localized the remaining parathyroid glands causing hypercalcemia. In this preliminary experience, the Tc-99m-sestamibi sc an localized all the abnormal parathyroid glands causing hyperparathyr oidism in patients who had previously had neck surgery.