Objectives 1) Delineate the role of CT-technetium 99m sestamibi (CT-MIBI) fusion in directed parathyroidectomy. 2) Determine the clinical situations where CT-MIBI fusion would be strongly recommended. Methods Charts from 190 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent CT-MIBI mage fusion as a part of a scan directed, minimally invasive parathyroid exploration protocol were reviewed. The results of conventional sestamibi imaging and CT-MIBI image fusion were compared with operative findings. Results CT-MIBI image fusion accurately localized solitary hyperfunctional parathyroid glands in 70% of patients imaged; 55% of patients were localized with conventional sestamibi imaging. CT-MIBI fusion imaging was most accurate and predictive when conventional images suggested that the solitary gland was separated from the thyroid or when the adenoma was located in the retro-thyroidal/ retro-esophageal plane or mediastinum. Conclusions CT-MIBI image fusion is not superior to conventional sestamibi imaging when utilized for routine localization of hyperfunctional parathyroid glands. CT-MIBI fusion is of greatest benefit in guiding the directed approach to solitary glands, which are separate from the thyroid or ectopically located, regions where conventional imaging has proven to be less accurate. This imaging technique will augment the minimally invasive surgical approach in selected patients with primary hyperparathyroidism in order to further refine the focused technique. Its utility as the standard preoperative localization modality is not yet established and requires further investigation. Evaluation of differences in facility utilization with CT-MIBI image fusion and conventional sestamibi imaging may be helpful in determining its role in preoperative localization for hyperparathyroidism.
Preoperative Localization Strategies for Primary Hyperparathyroidism: An Economic Analysis
