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Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Establishment of a Simple and Effective Rat Model for Intraoperative Parathyroid Gland Imaging
Published on: August 17, 2022
Intentional Imaging for Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Twyla B Bartel1, Tracy L Yarbrough1,2, Brendan C Stack3
1Global Advanced Imaging, PLLC, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Importance:
Preoperative parathyroid localization has been a great advance in the success of surgery for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) over the past 40 years.
Objective:
To highlight the amount of radiation exposure from contemporary parathyroid imaging options and to suggest intentional imaging use in planning for parathyroidectomy.
Evidence Review:
Contemporary parathyroid imaging modalities and their respective radiation exposure were reviewed. The analysis focused on patients undergoing preoperative parathyroid imaging related to pHPT and persistent/recurrent pHPT. Exposure of patients to ionizing radiation from devices and radiotracers measured in mSv was reported.
Findings:
The parathyroid imaging recommendations include ultrasonography (0 mSv), technetium Tc 99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with or without computed tomography (CT) (8.6-12.1 mSv), and second-line/complex imaging for patients undergoing revision parathyroid surgery: 4-dimensional CT (9.3-20.2 mSv) or choline-based positron emission tomography (PET) with or without CT (6.7-11.8 mSv).
Conclusions And Relevance:
Imaging should be conducted only when the diagnosis is confirmed. When making decisions about imaging, consider radiation exposure, sensitivity/specificity for adenoma detection, local expertise in the imaging modality, and cost.
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