Impact of adenoma weight and ectopic location of parathyroid adenoma on localization study results

Although the sensitivity of preoperative localization techniques is high for solitary parathyroid adenomas, negative imaging study results are inevitable. The weight and location of the parathyroid adenoma may contribute to the negative results. We aimed to study the impact of adenoma weight and ectopic location of the parathyroid adenoma on ultrasonography and sestamibi scan results. The patients were divided into two groups according to adenoma location. Group 1 consisted of 36 patients with ectopic location, and group 2 consisted of 149 patients with normal location. Parathyroid adenoma weight and the results of imaging studies were determined in all patients. Of 185 patients operated on for hyperparathyroidism, 36 (19.4%) had ectopic parathyroid glands. There was a positive correlation between adenoma weight and positive imaging studies, whereas ectopic location did not correlate with negative imaging study results. There was no significant difference between the ectopic adenoma ratio of patients with negative and positive imaging study results. The weight of the ectopic parathyroid adenoma was significantly lower in patients with negative imaging study results than in patients with positive imaging study results (p = 0.001). According to the analysis of variance, patients with higher-weight adenomas have positive imaging study results irrespective of ectopic location. For both normal and ectopic adenoma locations, adenoma weight was found only to be a factor that positively influences imaging study results.