The key role of 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT in the diagnosis of parathyroid adenoma: a case report

The concomitant occurrence of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) due to parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is not common. The co-occurrence of parathyroid tumors and thyroid diseases can lead to misdiagnosis owing to mutual interference of imaging in the early period of disease. The most commonly used imaging techniques for the preoperative localization of parathyroid and thyroid adenomas are technetium-99m sestamibi (99mTc-MIBI) scintigraphy and ultrasonography of the neck. Recently, 99mTc-MIBI single-photon emission computed tomography associated with computed tomography scintigraphy (SPECT/CT) has been used to detect PHPT, and its diagnostic value is being evaluated. Herein, we report a patient with an unusual co-occurrence of parathyroid adenoma and multiple thyroid diseases, including papillary thyroid carcinoma, thyroid adenoma and lymphocytic thyroiditis, which were localized with 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT and confirmed surgically. We suggest that 99mTc-MIBI SPECT/CT can play an important role in the diagnosis of parathyroid and thyroid lesions. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2015;59(3):265-