An ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma accurately located by a single-day imaging protocol of Tc-99m pertechnetate-MIBI subtraction scintigraphy and MIBI-SPECT-computed tomographic image fusion.
OBJECTIVE
Because ectopic parathyroid adenoma (PA) is a frequent cause of failed initial surgery, an imaging approach with accurate preoperative localization is recommended by some authors in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT).


METHODS
The authors describe a 52-year-old woman in whom primary HPT was diagnosed incidentally during a screening program for osteoporosis. The peculiarity of this case is that the patient was examined before operation in a single-day multimodal imaging protocol based on the combination of high-resolution cervical ultrasound, planar Tc-99m pertechnetate-MIBI scans, and an MIBI-SPECT-computed tomographic (CT) image fusion study. An ectopic PA was accurately located in the upper middle mediastinum, close to the lower margin of the sternal notch.


RESULTS
Guided by the MIBI-SPECT-CT fusion images, the surgeon performed a limited median sternotomy and easily removed the PA that was revealed before operation. To confirm the completeness of resection, a bilateral neck exploration was performed through the same incision, with identification of three normally sized parathyroid glands.


CONCLUSIONS
Our experience suggests the utility of multimodality imaging procedures for the accurate preoperative localization of PAs, particularly when they are present in ectopic mediastinal locations. Such procedures, including the MIBI-SPECT-CT image fusion study, can be performed in a single day.
Rubello
Domenico
D
Service of Nuclear Medicine 2, Department of Radiotherapy, General Hospital of Padova, Italy. dario.casara@unipd.it
Casara
Dario
D
Fiore
Davide
D
Muzzio
Piercarlo
P
Zonzin
Giancarlo
G
Shapiro
Brahm
B
D000236:Adenoma; D002828:Choristoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008477:Mediastinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D017556:Technetium Compounds; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017556:Technetium Compounds; D017256:Technetium Tc 99m Sestamibi; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m