Abstract
Objective: 99mTc-sestaMIBI SPECT/CT has a proven value for diagnosis and localization of parathyroid adenoma (PTA). Present study compared diagnostic accuracy and image quality of half-time SPECT to standard full-time SPECT.
Method: A total of 90 patients performed 99mTc-sestaMIBI scintigraphy. “H”-mode, 360 degrees SPECT was performed 45 minutes after injection using standard and half-time protocols. The SPECTs were reviewed randomly. Results were graded as negative, probable, and positive. SPECT image quality was graded as poor, good and excellent. PTA detection and image quality were compared.
Results: A total of 85 studies demonstrated cervical 99mTc-sestaMIBI foci and 5 were ectopic. A total of 73 studies (81%) showed congruent PTA detection scoring. In 17 studies a difference of one level in the probability for PTA was found. One of the ectopic foci was demonstrated on standard full-time SPECT only. Image quality was graded as good or excellent in all studies. 64 studies (71.1%) showed the same image quality on full- and half-time SPECT acquisition including 39 graded good, and 25 graded excellent. No significant difference in image quality was found between SPECT techniques.
Conclusion: Significant reduction in acquisition time of 99mTc-sestaMIBI SPECT can be successfully implemented into SPECT/CT for a total study time of 9 min. Diagnosis and precise preoperative localization is obtained without compromising clinically significant information.