J Korean Radiol Soc.  1994 Dec;31(6):1011-1016.

Radiological Evaluation of the Parathyroid Masses

• Shinn KS
• Hwang SS
• Lee MH
• Chung SK
• Lee HG
• Jung SO
• Park YH

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the radiologic findings and detectability of parathyroid masses in ultrasonograph computed tomography(CT), and radionuclide study(201TI-99mTc pertechnetate subtraction scintigraphy).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Surgically-proven 11 cases with parathyroid masses consisted of adenoma(n=8), adenomatous hyperplasia(n:2) and adenocarcinoma(n:l) were retrospectively analyzed. We performed US in all cases, CT in 8 cases, and radionuclide study in 7 cases. The parathyroid masses were analysed in regard to anatomic localization and imaging appearance on three modalities.
RESULTS
Ten of the 11 parathyroid masses(91%) were located posterior to the thyroid gland and the remainder in the left superior mediastinum. Nine of the 11 cases(82%) were detected on US. The majority were well-defined hypoechoic mass on US. Six of the 8 cases(75%) were detected on CT scan. In the precontrst CT, all of the 8 masses were hypodense as compared with thyroid gland and most showed mild enhancement on post-contrast CT. Six of the 7 cases(86%) were detected on RI study as hot nodule.
CONCLUSION
The typical radiological findings of the parathyroid mass were well-defined ovoid or round hypoechoic mass on US, hypodense mass with variable contrast enhancement on CT, and hot nodule on radionuclide study. US was a convenient and reliable imaging modality in detecting parathyroid masses. Improved diagnostic accuracy could be achieved with complementary CT scan and radionuclide study in addition to ultrasonography.

MeSH Terms

Mediastinum
Retrospective Studies
Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m
Thyroid Gland
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Ultrasonography
Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m