SCINTIGRAPHY OF THE PARATHYROID-GLANDS US ING TC-99M-MIBI

Aim: Since about 3 years Tc-99m-MIBI is used instead of Tl-201/Tc-99m subtraction scintigraphy for the localization of parathyroid involveme nt in hyperparathyroidism (HPT). The sensitivity of the new method was evaluated. Patients and Methods: 24 patients aged between 28 and 83 y ears with surgically confirmed primary HPT were studied. Planar images were acquired 15 minutes and 3 hours after tracer injection. Addition ally, in 9 patients dynamic images were obtained for 2 hours to study tracer kinetics. Results: 19 out of 24 adenomas (79%) were identified correctly with Tc-99-MIBI. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the scintigr aphy using Tc-99-MIBI is in the range of the Tl-201/Tc-99m subtraction scintigraphy. Because of the superior logistic and the lower radiatio n exposure, Tc-99m-MIBI can replace the Tl-201/Tc-99m scintigraphy in the preoperative diagnostic assessment.