The use of sestamibi imaging in parathyroid hyperplasia

Abstract

The authors describe a 42-year-old man with parathyroid hyperplasia secondary to chronic renal failure. Parathyroidectomy was indicated because of persistent hypercalcemia and an increasing parathyroid hormone level despite medical management. A parathyroid sestamibi scan was performed immediately before operation and a gamma-detecting probe was used during operation. Six parathyroid glands weighing nearly 21 g were present. Without the use of the gamma-detecting probe during operation, one of the glands would have been missed. The efficacy of sestamibi scanning with parathyroid hyperplasia is discussed.