SPECT/CT With 99m Tc-MIBI as an Early Indicator of the Success of Radiofrequency Ablation of Parathyroid Adenomas.
Ignacio Jiménez Hernando, Aurelio López Guerra, María Miguélez González et al.
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Case in brief
A 55-year-old man with hypercalcemic primary hyperparathyroidism had a right inferior parathyroid adenoma localized by 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT/CT. After he declined surgery, the adenoma was treated with radiofrequency ablation. Calcium levels progressively normalized, but PTH remained mildly elevated at 6 months. Follow-up SPECT/CT showed no residual adenomatous uptake; PTH subsequently normalized at 1 year, consistent with delayed biochemical cure.
What made this case unusual
Despite persistent mild PTH elevation at 6 months, follow-up SPECT/CT showed no residual adenomatous uptake and preceded subsequent PTH normalization.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
After radiofrequency ablation, absent adenomatous uptake on 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT/CT may indicate treatment success even when PTH remains mildly elevated.