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Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Establishment of a Simple and Effective Rat Model for Intraoperative Parathyroid Gland Imaging
Published on: August 17, 2022
Parathyroid Adenoma at the Parapharyngeal Space Detected on 99m Tc-Sestamibi SPECT/CT
Wai Ip Li1, Tak Kwong Chan, Boom Ting Kung
1Nuclear Medicine Unit, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong.
Abstract:
A 77-year-old woman was diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism, and initial cervical ultrasonography found no parathyroid lesion, and she was referred to the nuclear medicine unit for dual-phase 99m Tc-sestamibi (MIBI) scan. The scintigraphy unveiled heterogeneous uptake patterns across bilateral thyroid lobes, corresponding to the thyroid nodules, alongside a marked focal uptake with delayed tracer washout in the right oral region. The SPECT/CT pinpointed a MIBI-avid nodule within the right parapharyngeal space, indicative of parathyroid ectopia. An ectopic parapharyngeal parathyroid adenoma is exceptionally rare. MIBI scan plays a pivotal role in detection of ectopic parathyroid adenoma at unexpected sites.
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