open access

Vol 25, No 2 (2022)
Research paper
Submitted: 2021-05-26
Accepted: 2022-06-22
Published online: 2022-07-11
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Optimal timing of SPECT/CT to demonstrate parathyroid adenomas in 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy

Kate Hunter1, Niamh Gavin1, Colin McQuade1, Brendan Hogan1, John Feeney1
·
Pubmed: 36047295
·
Nucl. Med. Rev 2022;25(2):89-94.
Affiliations
  1. Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland

open access

Vol 25, No 2 (2022)
Original articles
Submitted: 2021-05-26
Accepted: 2022-06-22
Published online: 2022-07-11

Abstract

Background: Accurate preoperative localisation of the parathyroid adenoma is essential to achieve a minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. The purpose of this study was to validate and improve our single-isotope dual-phase parathyroid imaging protocol utilising 99mTechnetium-Sestamibi ([99mTc]MIBI). There has been no accepted gold standard evidence-based protocol regarding timing of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) acquisition in parathyroid imaging with resultant variation between centres. We sought to determine the optimum timing of SPECT/CT post administration of [99mTc]MIBI in the identification of parathyroid adenomas. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of early and late SPECT/CT and to establish whether SPECT/CT demonstrates increased sensitivity over planar imaging. Material and methods: A sample of 36 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent planar and SPECT/CT acquisition 15 minutes (early) and two hours (late) post [99mTc]MIBI administration. Two radionuclide radiologists reviewed the images and Fisher’s exact Chi-squared statistic was used to evaluate the diagnostic performances of early versus late SPECT/CT acquisition and SPECT/CT versus planar imaging. Results: Twenty-one likely parathyroid adenomas were identified with a statistically superior diagnosis rate in the late SPECT/CT acquisition compared with both early SPECT/CT and planar imaging (p < 0.05). All adenomas diagnosed on early SPECT/CT acquisition were also identified on late SPECT/CT images. Conclusions: Single late phase SPECT/CT is significantly superior to early SPECT/CT in the identification of parathyroid adenomas. Late SPECT/CT improves diagnostic accuracy over planar acquisition. Imaging protocols should be revised to include late SPECT/CT acquisition. Early SPECT/CT acquisition can be eliminated from scan protocols with associated implications regarding reduced scan time and increased patient throughput.

Abstract

Background: Accurate preoperative localisation of the parathyroid adenoma is essential to achieve a minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. The purpose of this study was to validate and improve our single-isotope dual-phase parathyroid imaging protocol utilising 99mTechnetium-Sestamibi ([99mTc]MIBI). There has been no accepted gold standard evidence-based protocol regarding timing of single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) acquisition in parathyroid imaging with resultant variation between centres. We sought to determine the optimum timing of SPECT/CT post administration of [99mTc]MIBI in the identification of parathyroid adenomas. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of early and late SPECT/CT and to establish whether SPECT/CT demonstrates increased sensitivity over planar imaging. Material and methods: A sample of 36 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent planar and SPECT/CT acquisition 15 minutes (early) and two hours (late) post [99mTc]MIBI administration. Two radionuclide radiologists reviewed the images and Fisher’s exact Chi-squared statistic was used to evaluate the diagnostic performances of early versus late SPECT/CT acquisition and SPECT/CT versus planar imaging. Results: Twenty-one likely parathyroid adenomas were identified with a statistically superior diagnosis rate in the late SPECT/CT acquisition compared with both early SPECT/CT and planar imaging (p < 0.05). All adenomas diagnosed on early SPECT/CT acquisition were also identified on late SPECT/CT images. Conclusions: Single late phase SPECT/CT is significantly superior to early SPECT/CT in the identification of parathyroid adenomas. Late SPECT/CT improves diagnostic accuracy over planar acquisition. Imaging protocols should be revised to include late SPECT/CT acquisition. Early SPECT/CT acquisition can be eliminated from scan protocols with associated implications regarding reduced scan time and increased patient throughput.

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Keywords

parathyroid scintigraphy; [99mTc]MIBI; sestamibi; SPECT/CT

About this article
Title

Optimal timing of SPECT/CT to demonstrate parathyroid adenomas in 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy

Journal

Nuclear Medicine Review

Issue

Vol 25, No 2 (2022)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

89-94

Published online

2022-07-11

Page views

4323

Article views/downloads

569

DOI

10.5603/NMR.a2022.0020

Pubmed

36047295

Bibliographic record

Nucl. Med. Rev 2022;25(2):89-94.

Keywords

parathyroid scintigraphy
[99mTc]MIBI
sestamibi
SPECT/CT

Authors

Kate Hunter
Niamh Gavin
Colin McQuade
Brendan Hogan
John Feeney

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