18F-fluorocholine PET/MRI versus ultrasound and sestamibi for the localization of parathyroid adenomas

Accurate preoperative localization is imperative to facilitate a minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) in primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). This study aims to compare the diagnostic value of standard-of-care localization techniques (ultrasound [US] and ^99mTechnetium (^99mTc) -sestamibi scintigraphy) to [F-18]-fluorocholine positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (FCH-PET/MRI) to determine the additional clinical usefulness of PET/MRI in a Canadian cohort.

We conducted a prospective, appropriately powered, study to compare the diagnostic value of -FCH PET/MRI to that of the US and ^99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy for localization of parathyroid adenomas in a patient with pHPT. The primary outcome was the per-lesion sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of FCH-PET/MRI, US, and ^99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy. Intraoperative surgeon localization, parathormone levels, and histopathological findings were used as reference standards.

Forty-one patients underwent FCH-PET/MRI of which 36 patients had parathyroidectomy. In these 36 patients, 41 parathyroid lesions were histologically confirmed as adenomas or hyperplastic glands. Per-lesion sensitivity of FCH-PET/MRI was 82.9% and of US and ^99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy combined at 50.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of FCH-PET/MRI was superior to that of US and ^99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy (p = 0.002). In the 19 patients in whom both US and ^99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy were negative, PET/MRI correctly identified the parathyroid adenoma in 13 patients (68%).

FCH-PET/MRI is a highly accurate imaging modality for localization of parathyroid adenomas in a tertiary center in North America. It is a superior functional imaging modality to ^99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy alone and more sensitive for localization of parathyroid lesions than US and ^99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy combined. This imaging modality could become the most valuable preoperative localization study given its superior performance in localizing parathyroid adenomas.