Localization of parathyroid adenomas by computer-assisted parathyroid scanning

In an attempt to localize adenomas of the parathyroid glands 36 patients with suspected hyperparathyroidism were studied with a computer-assisted double isotope scanning technique. Six patients were excluded from the statistical analysis because of uninterpretable scans. A definite localization was made with the computer-assisted scan in 16 patients. In 14 of these patients the site of the tumours was correctly predicted. In 14 patients no localization was seen on the scan. Four of these patients were classified as false negatives. In 14 out of the 16 correctly localized tumours two-thirds had weights equal to or less than 1-5 g.