Parathyroid Imaging

by Petra Petranović Ovčariček (ed.), Luca Giovanella (ed.), Martin W. Huellner (ed.) This comprehensive book explores the advantages and limitations of various imaging modalities used in the preoperative assessment of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands, while also covering surgical and histopathological aspects of parathyroid disorders. It delves into the technical details of each imaging technique, evaluates their accuracy in diverse clinical settings, provides comparative analyses, and discusses their cost-effectiveness. Parathyroid imaging is crucial for detecting hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands, especially in cases of primary hyperparathyroidism. Accurate localization of parathyroid glands is essential for successful surgical intervention. Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, which is the only curative treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism, offers numerous advantages over traditional bilateral neck exploration. However, the success of this approach heavily relies on both the surgeon's expertise and, particularly, on accurate preoperative imaging. The book also highlights the importance of parathyroid imaging in secondary hyperparathyroidism, aiding in the localization of all hyperfunctioning glands, including ectopic and supernumerary glands. Parathyroid imaging is indispensable in cases of persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism, as a repeat surgery is often more complex than the initial procedure, making the identification of hyperfunctioning glands critical for a positive outcome. In addition to well-established imaging methods such as ultrasound and traditional scintigraphy, newer technologies such as 4D-CT, MRI, PET/CT and PET/MR with various radiopharmaceuticals have significantly improved the accuracy of parathyroid gland localization, leading to improved outcomes for many patients. The selection of the imaging modality depends on factors such as accuracy, local expertise, patient-specific characteristics, availability and cost-effectiveness. This book serves as a valuable resource for nuclear medicine physicians, endocrinologists, radiologists, endocrine surgeons, and pathologists, encouraging a multidisciplinary approach to parathyroid gland disorders.