PARATHYROID SCINTIGRAPHY WITH I-123 AND (99M)TC-SESTAMIBI - IMAGING FINDINGS

Subtraction scintigraphy with Tc-99m-pertechnetate and Tl-201-chloride is widely used for localizing the parathyroid gland, but the sensitiv ity of this method averages only 55% [1]. The sensitivity of scintigra phy is improved by using a combination of Tc-99m-sestamibi and iodine- 123 [2]. Parathyroid adenomas can also be localized with Tc-99m-sestam ibi alone by subtracting early images from late sequential images [3]. The fast washout of Tc-99m-sestamibi from the thyroid gland allows vi sualization of the parathyroid gland. The purpose of this essay is to illustrate the findings of abnormalities of the parathyroid glands whe n using a combination of Tc-99m-sestamibi and iodine-123.