Subsequently a left upper pole thyroid adenoma was removed and a right upper pole hyperplastic gland (100mg) was also removed. Prior to imaging, it is important biochemically to confirm that hypercalcaemia is due to hyperparathyroidism. Imaging of the parathyroid is intended to localise the site of adenomas or hyperplastic glands. Visualisation of a gland depends upon its size. A normal parathynoid gland of less than 20mg will not be visualised by this technique. Earlier attempts to image parathyroid glands using thallium in a similar way has proved less successful than the use of MIBI.
