Incremental value of CT in the localization of parathyroid adenomas

The diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism rests on clinical and biochemical laboratory criteria. Once the diagnosis is established, it is the function of diagnostic imaging to pre-operatively find the suspected parathyroid adenoma. Traditionally, nuclear medicine techniques such as 99mTc-Sestamibi scan and ultrasound evaluation have been the mainstay in finding the neoplasm. However, results are not always satisfactory, and accurately identifying parathyroid adenomas, especially when they are multiple, remains a challenge. We report a case where careful correlation with contrast-enhanced diagnostic CT scan of the neck helped localize two parathyroid adenomas.