Parathyroid Scan

Your physician has requested that you have a Parathyroid scan. This is a safe, simple, non-invasive way to evaluate the tissues of your neck and upper chest for the presence of hyperfunctioning (overactive) parathyroid glands. The radiopharmaceutical used is Technetium-99m-Sestamibi (Tc99m-Sestamibi). This radiopharmaceutical is commonly used for the evaluation of heart disease. The injection will not make you feel dizzy, nauseated, hot or cold.

Approximate exam time from initial injection to completion of delayed images - 4 hours.

To outline our requirements, you will:

1. Check in with our receptionist.
2. You will then be escorted to Nuclear Medicine.
3. A short history will be taken.
4. Technetium -Sestamibi will then be administered through a vein in your arm.
5. 10 minutes later, anterior images of your neck and upper chest will be obtained.
6. You will be asked to return three hours after the initial images for delayed images.
7. The repeat images will be obtained using a topographic technique, which is similar to a CT scan.
8. Once the images are complete they will be read by a Radiologist and the results will be sent to your Physician.

Note: Inpatients will be transported to Nuclear Medicine.