• International journal of thyroidology
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.92-98
• /
• 2018

Intraoperative identification and localization of parathyroid glands are crucial step in preventing postoperative hypocalcemia during thyroid and parathyroid surgery. If there is a method to predict the parathyroid's location rather than detecting and verifying with naked eye, it would make the operator easier to find and identify the parathyroid. Recently, near-infrared light imaging technologies have been introduced in the fields of thyroid and parathyroid surgery to predict the localization of the parathyroid. These are being conducted in two ways: autofluorescence imaging with a unique intrinsic fluorophore in the parathyroid tissues and fluorescence imaging with external fluorescence materials specially absorbed into parathyroid tissues. We are suggest that parathyroid glands can be detected by surgeon with NIR autofluorescence imaging even if they are covered by fibrofatty tissues before they are detected by surgeon's naked eye. These novel techniques are very useful to identify and preserve parathyroid glands during thyroidectomy. In this article, we reviewed the latest papers that describe autofluorescence imaging and exogenous ICG fluorescence imaging of parathyroid glands during thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.317-319
• /
• 2014

Ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenomas or hyperplasias account for up to 25% of primary hyperparathyroidism cases. Most abnormal parathyroid glands are found in the superior mediastinum within the thymus and can be removed through a cervical incision; however, a few of these glands are not accessible using standard cervical surgical approaches. Surgical resection has traditionally been performed via median sternotomy or thoracotomy. However, recent advancement in video-assisted thoracic surgery techniques has decreased the need for sternotomy or thoracotomy to remove these ectopic parathyroid glands. Here, we report a successful case of video-assisted thoracoscopic removal of a mediastinal parathyroid adenoma.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.53-57
• /
• 2023

In general, the anatomical location and number of parathyroid glands are well known, but they are often found in a variety of locations, making it difficult to find parathyroid glands during surgery. Besides Intra-thyroidal parathyroid adenoma is extremely rare case, and it is harder to identify in surgery. We encountered a 51-year-old patient with a thyroid nodule. The results of the additional blood test and the Tc-99m MIBI were combined to determine that the left lower lobe parathyroid adenoma was highly likely. This patient was treated with left thyroid lobectomy with parathyroid identification using Near-infrared (NIR) imaging. Afterwards, the biopsy confirmed that it was a parathyroid adenoma, and has since been monitored through outpatient observation without any problem. We present this rare case with a review of related literatures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.85 no.2
• /
• pp.327-344
• /
• 2024

Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands that regulate calcium metabolism by producing parathyroid hormone (PTH). These are located at the back of the thyroid gland. Typically, four glands comprise the parathyroid glands, although their numbers may vary among individuals. Parathyroid diseases are related to parathyroid gland dysfunction and can be caused by problems with the parathyroid gland itself or abnormal serum calcium levels arising from renal disease. In recent years, as comprehensive health checkups have become more common, abnormal serum calcium levels are often found incidentally in blood tests, after which several additional tests, including a PTH test, ultrasonography (US), technetium-99m sestamibi parathyroid scan, single-photon-emission CT (SPECT)/CT, four-dimensional CT (4D-CT), and PET/CT, are performed for further evaluation. However, the parathyroid gland remains an organ less familiar to radiologists. Therefore, the normal anatomy, pathophysiology, imaging, and clinical findings of the parathyroid gland and its associated diseases are discussed here.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.80-84
• /
• 1999

Primary hryperparathyroidism is a relatively rare disease entity in Korea. It's characterized by severe skeletal and renal changes due to hypersecretion of parathyroid hormone, and rarely shows peptic ulceration, hypertension, pancreatitis and impaired mentality. Recently the determination of the serum calcium level has become a routine laboratory test and the awareness of primary hyperparathyroidism has been incerased, the disease is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Primary hyperparathyroidism is most commonly caused by parathyroid adenoma and rarely hyperplasia, cancer of parathyroid glands. The authors operated sucessfully a case of primary parathyroid adenoma by diagnosed by nuclear medical diagnostic work-up. The patient had anterior neck mass(soft, non tender nodule) on physical examination, multiple goiter on thyroid ultrasonogram and scan. The parathyroid lesion was difficult to find preoperatively.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.25-29
• /
• 2022

Parathyroid carcinoma is very rare malignant neoplasm, accounting for less than 0.005% of all cancers. Most parathyroid carcinoma is a functioning tumor that causes hyperparathyroidism, leading to hypercalcemia. We report a parathyroid carcinoma case that was suspicious for spontaneous infarction of cancer, leading to resolution of hypercalcemia. A 29-year-old male visited our hospital presenting with right neck swelling and pain. He has been experiencing frequent urolithiasis for four years but laboratory tests showed normal serum calcium level. Right vocal cord paresis was identified with laryngoscopy. Ultrasonography revealed a 3.7 × 3.5 cm mass in the right thyroid containing a focal cystic portion. Computed tomography confirmed the presence of a low-density right thyroid mass. Right thyroid lobectomy was performed and pathological evaluation revealed parathyroid carcinoma with central necrosis. We report this very rare case with a literature review.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.120-130
• /
• 1999

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of double-phase Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with hyper-parathyroidism. We also evaluated the relationship between Tc-99m MIBI uptake and oxyphil cell contents in parathyroid glands. Materials and Methods: The subjects were 28 parathyroid glands of 10 patients who underwent Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy and parathyroidectomy for clinically suspected hyper-parathyroidism. Early and delayed pinhole images were obtained at 15 minutes and 2 hours after injection of Tc-99m MIBI, and SPECT images were followed. The weight and oxyphil cell contents of parathyroid tissue were obtained from pathologic specimen, and the scintigraphic findings were compared with histopathology. Results: In surgical histopathology, 6 parathyroid adenomas and 9 parathyroid hyperplasias were confirmed. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of early and delayed images were 46.7% (7/15), 76.9% (10/13), 70% (7/10) and 66.7% (10/15), 92.3% (12/13), 90.9% (10/11), respectively. SPECT image detected an additional small hyperplasia.. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of combined interpretation of early and delayed images with SPECT were 73.3% (11/15), 100% (13/13), 100% (11/11). The sensitivity was 100% (6/6) for adenoma, whereas that was 55.5% (5/9) for hyperplasia. Both adenomas and hyperplasias showed significantly increased oxyphil cell contents compared with normal parathyroid glands (p<0.0001), but the oxyphil cell content and weight were not significantly different between adenomas and hyperplasias. Conclusion: Double-phase Tc-99m MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy with SPECT is useful for lesion localization in patients with hyperparathyroidism. Although both adenoma and hyperplasia have increased oxyphil cell content, the sensitivity is high in adenoma, but low in hyperplasia.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.29-32
• /
• 2018

The parathyroid glands are usually located in the posterolateral area of the thyroid gland. Due to their embryologic origin, they are sometimes found in an ectopic position from the angle of the jaw to the mediastinum. However, their incidental detection in the hypopharyngeal wall is rare. Herein, we report a case of an ectopic parathyroid gland found in the hypopharyngeal wall of a 39-year old woman with no known endocrine abnormality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
• /
• v.84 no.3
• /
• pp.596-605
• /
• 2023

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the US features of the parathyroid glands (PTGs) using surgical specimens of normal PTGs obtained during thyroid surgery. Materials and Methods This study included 34 normal PTGs from 17 consecutive patients who underwent thyroid surgery between December 2020 and March 2021. All normal PTGs were histologically confirmed by intraoperative frozen-section biopsy for autotransplantation. Surgically resected parathyroid specimens were scanned in sterile normal saline using high-resolution US prior to autotransplantation. The US features of echogenicity (hyperechogenicity or hypoechogenicity), echotexture (homogeneous or heterogeneous), size, and shape (ovoid or round) were retrospectively evaluated. The echogenicity of the three PTGs was compared with that of the thyroid parenchyma of the resected thyroid specimens in two patients. Results All PTGs showed hyperechogenicity similar to that of gauze soaked in normal saline. Homogeneous hyperechogenicity was observed in 32/34 (94.1%) patients, and the echogenicity of the three PTGs was hyperechoic compared with that of the thyroid parenchyma. The long diameter of the PTGs ranged from 5.1 mm to 9.8 mm (mean, 7.1 mm) and the shape of the PTGs was ovoid in 33/34 (97.1%) patients. Conclusion The echogenicity of normal PTG specimens was consistently hyperechoic, and the small ovoid homogeneously hyperechoic structure was a characteristic US feature of the PTGs.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.26 no.11
• /
• pp.886-889
• /
• 1993

The DiGeorge syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly of absent or hypoplastic thymus and parathyroid glands. Authors experienced a case of DiGeorge syndrome with complex cardiac anomaly. The complex cardiac anomaly was tetralogy of Fallot with origin of the right pulmonaly artery from the posterolateral ascending aorta.His face showed hypertelorism,short philtrum,"fish-like"mouth and micrognathia. This patient underwent total correction of tetralogy of Fallot and end-to-side anastomosis between right pulmonaly artery and side of main pulmonaly artery. He expired on postoperative second day due to right heart failure and hypoxia.d hypoxia.