COEXISTENT PARATHYROID ADENOMAS AND HURTHLE CELL TUMORS - FAILURE OF FULL DETECTION BY SUBTRACTION METHOD

Tc-99m sestamibi and I-123 sodium iodide studies were performed on two patients, one with a neck mass and another with suspected hyperparath yroidism. Subtraction images detected what proved to be Hurthle cell t umors in each case, but coexisting parathyroid adenomas, which were fo und at surgery, were not visualized. The findings indicate that both t ypes of lesions can occur simultaneously, and that studies are needed to determine whether detailed assays of rate of washout could distingu ish between the lesions.