Parathyroid scintigraphy
Parathyroid scintigraphy can find the parathyroid adenoma. The starting point is an elevated calcium level in the blood. This may have been triggered by the parathyroid hormone parathyroid hormone (PTH). In 80 to 85% of cases, one or more benign parathyroid glands (so-called parathyroid adenomas) uncontrollably produce too much parathyroid hormone. Scintigraphy localizes parathyroid adenomas and facilitates surgical planning, thereby minimizing the extent of surgery.
approx. 2 ½ to 3 hours
Duration of examination
up to 90
of parathyroid adenomas (>0.3 g) are found
approx. 1.6 times
Radiation exposure in relation to annual natural amount of radiation
Where can you have a parathyroid scintigraphy performed in Munich?
We offer parathyroid scintigraphy at our location in the Rotkreuzklinikum in Nymphenburgerstr. 163 an. Please bring the current laboratory values of calcium and parathormone from your doctor. For compulsorily insured persons, we require a valid referral slip.
When is scintigraphy of parathyroid glands useful?
If calcium and parathyroid hormone are elevated in your blood and phosphate is low, you have “primary hyperparathyroidism.” The cause in 80 to 85% of cases is the overproduction of parathyroid hormone (=parathyroid hormone) by a parathyroid adenoma. Too much parathyroid hormone increases bone resorption and calcium is released. This can cause bone pain. In addition, the formation of kidney stones is possible due to too much calcium in the blood.
In general, a person has 4 parathyroid glands, typically located at the back of the thyroid gland on both sides of the upper and lower poles respectively. But the number, size and even location can vary. In 1 in 6 people, there is an atypical location, most commonly in the thymus, but rarely deep in the chest cavity in front of the heart or above the thyroid gland.
Parathyroid scintigraphy can be used to detect parathyroid adenomas even in atypical locations. The level of parathyroid hormone and the size of the parathyroid adenoma influence the success rate.
How does a parathyroid scintigraphy work?
After injection of the radioactive-labeled examination substance “MIBI”, images of the neck and upper body are taken with the help of the gamma camera in a so-called two-phase technique, i.e. at different points in time.
We take the early shots after about 15 minutes and the late shots after 2 hours. The investigational substance accumulates in the thyroid and parathyroid glands in the early stages and is then rapidly “washed out” of both, but only slowly from a parathyroid adenoma. These then present themselves positively (through stronger storage) in late images.
What do you need to know before the treatment?
No special patient preparation is necessary for parathyroid scintigraphy. The use of steroids and calcium channel blockers may negatively affect the examination. The following laboratory values must be available for examination: parathormone and calcium. Our on-site nuclear medicine physician will perform an ultrasound examination of the neck and explain the examination procedure to you.
What is the procedure for a scintigraphy at Radiologie München?
Before the start of the parathyroid scintigraphy, you will be given access via a vein in your arm and the examination substance “MIBI”, which is labeled with 99m technetium radioactive, will be injected through it. After 15 minutes of waiting, you will lie on the gamma camera for approximately 15 minutes for the early images.
Then it’s wait for 2 hours until the late shooting. They are allowed to leave the clinic, go for walks, eat and drink. Please avoid close contact with pregnant women and small children. After 2 hours, lie on the gamma camera again for 25 minutes for the late exposures. The images will then be evaluated, a repeat ultrasound may be necessary, and our nuclear medicine physician will discuss the results with you.
What are the risks and side effects of parathyroid scintigraphy?
Radiation exposure during parathyroid scintigraphy is approximately 1.6 times the natural annual radiation exposure. As with all medicines, the investigational substance may cause side effects, although these are extremely rare.
Allergic reactions were also observed very rarely, as were reactions at the injection site. The radiopharmaceutical must not be used if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to tetrakis(1-isocyan-2-methoxy-2-methoxy-2-methylpropane)copper (1+)-tetrafluoroborate.