Assessment of PTeye™ versus FLUOBEAM® LX for parathyroid adenomas: a pilot case-control study

Identifying the parathyroids is compulsory for success of parathyroidectomy for parathyroid adenoma. The aim of the present study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of PTeye™ and FLUOBEAM® LX in identifying parathyroid adenomas. Patients undergoing parathyroidectomy due to a parathyroid adenoma were enrolled prospectively in this study and were randomly included to Group A (PTeye™) or Group B (FLUOBEAM® LX). After intraoperative identification of parathyroid adenomas and before tissue dissection (minute 0), we evaluated the efficacy of both devices in confirming the adenomas. We re-evaluated devices' efficacy in minutes 1, 3 and 5 during tissue dissection and before adenoma excision. All PAs were confirmed and identified with PTeye™, while FLUOBEAM® LX could not identify 3/20 adenomas (15%). PTeye™ confirmed parathyroid tissue in less than 1 min in 13 cases (65%), in < 3 min in 7 (35%), whereas FLUOBEAM® LX identified 4 adenomas in < 3 min (20%), in < 5 min 9 adenomas (60%) and > 5 min in 4 (20%). PTeye™ and FLUOBEAM® LX are both useful tools in confirming parathyroid tissue intraoperatively. PTeye™ confirmed the suspected adenoma earlier before tissue dissection, while FLUOBEAM® LX demands tissue dissection as it identifies the normal parathyroid tissue.