Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE:
Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery relies critically on image guidance, but data comparing the efficacy of various imaging modalities are scarce. Our aim was to perform a blinded comparison of the localizing capability of technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT, multiphase multidetector 4D CT, and the combination of these 2 modalities (technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT + multiphase multidetector 4D CT).
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
We reviewed the records of 31 (6 men, 25 women; median age, 56 years) consecutive patients diagnosed with biochemically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism between November 2009 and March 2010 who underwent preoperative technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT and multiphase multidetector 4D CT performed on the same scanner with pathologic confirmation by resection of a single parathyroid adenoma. Accuracy was determined separately for localization to the correct side and quadrant using surgical localization as the standard of reference.
RESULTS:
Surgical resection identified 14 left and 17 right parathyroid adenomas and 2 left inferior, 12 left superior, 11 right inferior, and 6 right superior parathyroid adenomas. For left/right localization, technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT achieved an accuracy of 93.5% (29 of 31), multiphase multidetector 4D CT achieved 96.8% accuracy (30 of 31), and technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT + multiphase multidetector 4D CT achieved 96.8% accuracy (30 of 31). For quadrant localization, technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT accuracy was 67.7% (21 of 31), multiphase multidetector 4D CT accuracy was 87.1% (27 of 31), and technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT + multiphase multidetector 4D CT accuracy was 93.5% (29 of 31). Reader diagnostic confidence was consistently ranked lowest for technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT and highest for technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT + multiphase multidetector 4D CT.
CONCLUSIONS:
For left/right localization of parathyroid adenomas, all modalities performed equivalently. For quadrant localization, technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT + multiphase multidetector 4D CT is superior to technetium Tc99m sestamibi SPECT.
Primary hyperparathyroidism is a common endocrine disorder caused most often by a solitary parathyroid adenoma.1 The definitive cure for this disorder is surgical resection. The surgical approach has shifted from standard bilateral cervical exploration to modern minimally invasive parathyroidectomy.2 For minimally invasive parathyroidectomy to be successful, accurate preoperative localization of a single offending parathyroid gland and exclusion of possible multigland disease or 4-gland hyperplasia are critical and useful. Several noninvasive preoperative localization modalities are available, including parathyroid scintigraphy using technetium Tc99m sestamibi (MIBI)3,4; ultrasonography5,6; CT, specifically multiphase multidetector 4D CT (4DCT)7; MR imaging8; and recently, 11C-methionine positron-emission tomography/CT9 and [18F]-choline positron-emission tomography/CT.10 The emergence of hybrid SPECT camera technology and advances in CT technology have allowed MIBI SPECT and 4DCT to be successfully used for the preoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid glands.11–16
The requirements for minimally invasive neck surgery have led to greater demands from imaging. Imaging needs to confidently localize the adenoma to a side, localize the adenoma to a quadrant or precise anatomic location, characterize the embryologic origin of the parathyroid lesion, be sensitive to ectopic disease, and preferably be able to identify potential multigland disease. Some traditional imaging studies may not meet these modern requirements.
The purpose of the present study was to do a blinded comparison of the localizing capability of MIBI SPECT, 4DCT, and the combination of these 2 modalities using surgical localization as a criterion standard. We evaluated the ability of each technique to localize a parathyroid adenoma to a side and a quadrant, with particular note of reader confidence in the imaging findings to direct surgery.
Materials and Methods
Study Population
This was a retrospective study of consecutive patients who were diagnosed with primary hyperparathyroidism between November 2009 and March 2010. All patients had biochemically confirmed primary hyperparathyroidism (a serum calcium level of >10.4 mg/dL [2.6 mmol/L] and a serum parathyroid hormone level of >65 pg/mL [6.84 pmol/L]); underwent preoperative MIBI SPECT and 4DCT performed on same scanner; and had pathologic confirmation by resection of a single hypercellular parathyroid gland. Patients who had undergone a prior operation or had multigland resections were excluded. We obtained a waiver of consent from our institutional review board (MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas) for this Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant study.
Image Acquisition
MIBI SPECT.
All patients underwent a dual-phase MIBI study after intravenous injection of 20–25 mCi (740–925 MBq) of technetium Tc99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile. Anterior and posterior planar images of the head, neck, and thorax were acquired at 20 and 90 minutes, and SPECT was acquired at 30–60 minutes after intravenous injection of technetium Tc99m methoxyisobutyl isonitrile. Images were acquired using a high-resolution, low-energy, parallel-hole collimator and a large FOV, dual-headed gamma camera with a jointly mounted 16-slice CT scanner (Symbia T16; Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). SPECT was acquired for 128 frames over a full 360° arc at 22 seconds per frame on a noncircular orbit mapped to the body contour. The gamma camera photopeak window was centered at 140 keV with a 15% window and an adjacent 15% scatter window at lower energy. The mean count per frame was 196,000 with a range of 136,000–256,000. A noncontrast low-dose CT scan (130 kV[peak], 90 mAs, pitch = 1.2, CareDose4D, nominal volume CT dose index = 9.7 mGy) was obtained immediately after SPECT acquisition for attenuation correction. Image reconstruction was performed using 3D-ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) (Flash3D; Siemens) with 8 iterations and 16 subsets and a 5-mm Gaussian postreconstruction filter to yield a 128 × 128 × 128 matrix with 4.8 × 4.8 × 4.8 mm voxels. CT-based attenuation correction, energy-window–based scatter correction, and collimator resolution modeling were used during SPECT reconstructions.
4DCT.
The 4DCT study was performed on the same table immediately after the MIBI SPECT study using a 16-row multidetector CT scanner of the SPECT system (Symbia T16; Siemens). Helical scans were obtained at 220 mA and 130 kVp. The scans were obtained with 1.25-mm collimation, table speed of 13.75 mm/s, pitch of 1.375, and gantry rotation time of 1 second. Initially, unenhanced scans were obtained from the carina to the mandible. An 18-ga intravenous cannula placed in the antecubital vein was used to inject 120 mL of nonionic contrast material, ioversol (Optiray 320; Mallinckrodt, St. Louis, Missouri), at 4.0 mL/s with a power injector. Multiphase scanning was performed with the second, third, and fourth scans (programmed to the same collimation, table feed, and duration as the first scan), which were obtained at 25 (arterial), 55 (venous), and 85 (delay) seconds, respectively, after the beginning of the administration of contrast.
Surgical Localization
The criterion standard for final anatomic localization of the parathyroid adenoma was an operation, as recorded in the operative notes.
Imaging Performance Analysis
Retrospective image analysis was performed on PACS workstations in configurations used for routine clinical image interpretation by 2 independent and blinded teams of readers. For each patient in the cohort, the MIBI SPECT was read independently using noncontrast CT and MIBI SPECT data only by 2 experienced nuclear physicians (E.E.K. and H.H.C.). The 4DCT data were read using both nonenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT data, as independently reviewed by 2 experienced neuroradiologists (D.S. and N.G.-T.). The combined MIBI SPECT and 4DCT (MIBI SPECT + 4DCT) data (all imaging information) were reviewed by a reader team consisting of an experienced neuroradiologist (T.H.V.) and a nuclear physician (E.R.). The team interpreted de-identified image sets knowing only the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism, and readers were asked to localize the parathyroid adenoma. The localization to side (left or right) and quadrant (relative to the midpoint of the thyroid as dividing the upper and lower quadrants) and the embryologic origin of the abnormal parathyroid gland (superior or inferior) were recorded, as well as surgical localization based on surgical anatomy (Fig 1).17 For each localization, reader confidence (certain, equivocal, or uncertain on a 3-point scale) was also recorded. The reader team had no knowledge of the imaging data outside their assigned area. The images were interpreted as a consensus reading without individual readings to measure interrater agreement.
Fig 1.
Surgical classification of parathyroid adenoma locations, anterior view. A, Superior, in proximity to the posterior surface of the thyroid parenchyma. B, Superior, fallen posteriorly into the tracheoesophageal groove and no longer in contact with the posterior surface of the thyroid tissue. C, Superior, fallen posteriorly into the tracheoesophageal groove and no longer in contact with the posterior surface of the thyroid tissue at the inferior pole close to the clavicles. D, Superior or inferior, in the midregion of the posterior surface of the thyroid parenchyma near the junction of the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroidal artery. E, Inferior, in the region inferior to the thyroid gland, lying in the anteroposterior plane of the thyroid and anterior to the trachea. F, Inferior, descended into the thyrothymic ligament or superior thymus and possibly appearing to be “ectopic” or in the mediastinum. G, Intrathyroidal.
After all imaging analysis was performed, 1 researcher (F.C.W.) consulted the surgical and pathologic records to determine adenoma localization, pathologic characteristics, and weight.
Statistical Analysis
Error matrices were constructed for overall true-versus-false localization for each of the readings (MIBI SPECT, 4DCT, and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT) against surgical localization. Error matrices were then constructed by level of confidence and analyzed similarly. A 95% confidence interval for accuracy was calculated using the Clopper-Pearson exact method. Diagnostic accuracy was compared among MIBI SPECT, 4DCT, and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT and determined by the McNemar test. All tests were 2-sided, and P values ≤ .05 were considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS, Version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina) and R version 2.3 (R Development Core Team, http://www.r-project.org).
Results
Patient selection is summarized in Fig 2. Forty-three patients were included in our initial study group. Seven were excluded because of a prior operation, and 2 were excluded owing to incomplete imaging data, leaving 34 patients. Three patients had multiple parathyroid adenomas resected and were excluded. The remaining 31 patients had a single abnormal parathyroid gland resected.
Fig 2.
Patient selection flowchart. Thirty-one patients were included in the final analysis.
The study group consisted of 6 male and 25 female patients with a median age of 56 years (range, 26–78 years). Patients had mean corrected calcium values of 10.6 mmol/L (median, 10.6 mmol/L; range, 9.5–11.8 mmol/L) against a reference range of 8.4–10.2 mmol/L at our laboratory. Patients had mean parathyroid hormone levels of 111 pmol/L (median, 105 pmol/L; range, 56–209 pmol/L) against a reference range of 9–80 pmol/L at our laboratory. The resected parathyroid glands had weights ranging from 0.07 to 6.08 g; the mean weight was 0.77 g and the median weight was 0.40 g.
Surgical Localization
Surgical resection localized parathyroid adenomas to the following locations: by side, 14 left and 17 right; by quadrant, 2 left inferior, 12 left superior, 11 right inferior, and 6 right superior; and by surgical classification (Fig 1), 9 type A, 9 type B, 3 type C, 1 type D, and 9 type E.
Overall Imaging Performance
Tables 1–4 summarize the error matrices for left- or right-sided localization, embryologic origin of the abnormal parathyroid gland (superior or inferior), quadrant localization (both left or right and upper or lower), and surgical classification of MIBI SPECT, 4DCT, and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT readings, along with accuracies.
Table 1:
Diagnostic accuracy of left/right localization of parathyroid adenomas in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | Left No. (%) | Right No. (%) | Total No. (%) | Accuracy (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIBI SPECT | 93.5 (78.6–99.2) | |||
| Left | 13 (41.9) | 1 (3.2) | 14 (45.2) | |
| Right | 1 (3.2) | 16 (51.6) | 17 (54.8) | |
| 4DCT | 96.8 (83.3–99.9) | |||
| Left | 14 (45.2) | 1 (3.2) | 15 (48.4) | |
| Right | 0 (0.0) | 16 (51.6) | 16 (51.6) | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT | 96.8 (83.3–99.9) | |||
| Left | 14 (45.2) | 1 (3.2) | 15 (48.4) | |
| Right | 0 (0.0) | 16 (51.6) | 16 (51.6) | |
| Total | 14 (45.2) | 17 (54.8) |
Table 2:
Diagnostic accuracy of embryologic origin of the abnormal parathyroid gland in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | Superior No. (%) | Inferior No. (%) | Total No. (%) | Accuracy (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIBI SPECT | 74.2 (55.4–88.1) | |||
| Superior gland | 10 (32.3) | 0 (0) | 10 (32.3) | |
| Inferior gland | 8 (25.8) | 13 (41.9) | 21 (67.7) | |
| Total | 18 (58.1) | 13 (41.9) | ||
| 4DCT | 90.3 (74.3–98.0) | |||
| Superior gland | 15 (48.4) | 0 (0) | 15 (48.6) | |
| Inferior gland | 3 (9.7) | 13 (41.9) | 16 (51.6) | |
| Total | 18 (58.1) | 13 (41.9) | ||
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT | 96.8 (83.3–99.9) | |||
| Superior gland | 17 (54.8) | 0 (0) | 17 (54.8) | |
| Inferior gland | 1 (3.2) | 13 (41.9) | 14 (45.2) | |
| Total | 18 (58.1) | 13 (41.9) |
Table 3:
Diagnostic accuracy of quadrant localization of parathyroid adenomas in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | LI No. (%) | LS No. (%) | RI No. (%) | RS No. (%) | Total No. (%) | Accuracy (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIBI SPECT | 67.7 (48.6–83.3) | |||||
| LI | 2 (6.5) | 2 (6.5) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 5 (16.1) | |
| LS | 0 (0) | 9 (29.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 9 (29.0) | |
| RI | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 10 (32.3) | 6 (19.4) | 16 (51.6) | |
| RS | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | |
| 4DCT | 87.1 (70.2–96.4) | |||||
| LI | 2 (6.5) | 1 (3.2) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 4 (12.9) | |
| LS | 0 (0) | 11 (35.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 11 (35.5) | |
| RI | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 10 (32.3) | 2 (6.5) | 12 (38.7) | |
| RS | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 4 (12.9) | 4 (12.9) | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT | 93.5 (78.6–99.2) | |||||
| LI | 2 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 3 (9.7) | |
| LS | 0 (0) | 12 (38.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 12 (38.7) | |
| RI | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 10 (32.3) | 1 (3.2) | 11 (35.5) | |
| RS | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 5 (16.1) | 5 (16.1) | |
| Total | 2 (6.5) | 12 (38.7) | 11 (35.5) | 6 (19.4) |
Note:—LI indicates left inferior; LS, left superior; RI, right inferior; RS, right superior.
Table 4:
Diagnostic accuracy of surgical classification (Fig 1) of parathyroid adenomas in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | A No. (%) | B No. (%) | C No. (%) | D No. (%) | E No. (%) | Total No. (%) | Accuracy (95% CI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIBI SPECT | 54.8 (36.0–72.7) | ||||||
| A | 3 (9.7) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 4 (12.9) | |
| B | 2 (6.5) | 3 (9.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 5 (16.1) | |
| C | 2 (6.5) | 2 (6.5) | 3 (9.7) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 8 (25.8) | |
| D | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | |
| E | 2 (6.5) | 2 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 8 (25.8) | 12 (38.7) | |
| F | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | 1 (3.2) | |
| 4DCT | 61.3 (42.2–78.2) | ||||||
| A | 7 (22.6) | 4 (12.9) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 11 (35.5) | |
| B | 1 (3.2) | 2 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 3 (9.7) | |
| C | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | 3 (9.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 4 (12.9) | |
| D | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (3.2) | 3 (9.7) | 4 (12.9) | |
| E | 1 (3.2) | 2 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 6 (19.4) | 9 (29.0) | |
| F | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT | 74.2 (55.4–88.1) | ||||||
| A | 7 (22.6) | 3 (9.7) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 10 (32.3) | |
| B | 0 (0) | 4 (12.9) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 4 (12.9) | |
| C | 0 (0) | 2 (6.5) | 3 (9.7) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0) | 6 (19.4) | |
| D | 2 (6.5) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 2 (6.5) | |
| E | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 9 (29) | 9 (29.0) | |
| F | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
| Total | 9 (29) | 9 (29) | 3 (9.7) | 1 (3.2) | 9 (29.0) |
MIBI SPECT achieved an accuracy of 93.5% (29 of 31 patients) in correctly localizing the parathyroid adenomas on the left or right side. Embryologic origin accuracy was 74.2% (23 of 31 patients). Quadrant localization accuracy was 67.7% (21 of 31 patients). Surgical classification accuracy was 54.8% (17 of 31 patients).
4DCT achieved an accuracy of 96.8% (30 of 31 patients) in correctly localizing parathyroid adenomas on the left or right side. Embryologic origin accuracy was 90.3% (28 of 31 patients). Quadrant localization accuracy was 87.1% (27 of 31 patients). Surgical classification accuracy was 61.3% (19 of 31 patients).
MIBI SPECT + 4DCT achieved an accuracy of 96.8% (30 of 31 patients) in correctly localizing the parathyroid adenomas on the left or right side. Embryologic origin accuracy was 96.8% (30 of 31 patients). Quadrant localization accuracy was 93.5% (29 of 31 patients). Surgical classification accuracy was 74.2% (23 of 31 patients).
We found that most errors in MIBI SPECT were due to superior glands being misidentified as inferior glands (Table 2), whereas this error was much less frequently observed in the 4DCT and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT readings.
Imaging Performance by Confidence Level
Table 5 shows reader team confidence in each localization technique. Confidence levels were generally higher for 4DCT and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT readings than they were for MIBI SPECT readings. Confidence in left/right localization was generally much higher than for quadrant localization. The more detailed level of surgical classification reduced confidence levels for MIBI SPECT to a greater degree than it did for 4DCT and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT, for which confidence was fairly consistently high regardless of the level of detail required.
Table 5:
Level of confidence response from 3 reading groups for lateralization, upper/lower quadrant localization, and localization by surgical classification
| Response/Imaging Modality | Certain (%) | Equivocal (%) | Uncertain (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lateralization | |||
| MIBI SPECT | 27 (87.1) | 1 (3.2) | 3 (9.7) |
| 4DCT | 30 (96.8) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0.0) |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT | 29 (93.5) | 2 (6.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Upper/lower | |||
| MIBI SPECT | 22 (71.0) | 6 (19.4) | 3 (9.7) |
| 4DCT | 30 (96.8) | 1 (3.2) | 0 (0.0) |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT | 31 (100.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Surgical localization | |||
| MIBI SPECT | 15 (48.4) | 15 (48.4) | 1 (3.2) |
| 4DCT | 28 (90.3) | 3 (9.7) | 0 (0.0) |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT | 29 (93.5) | 1 (3.2) | 1 (3.2) |
Comparison of Imaging Modalities
Tables 6–9 summarize McNemar test results comparing the diagnostic accuracy of left- or right-sided localization, embryologic origin of the abnormal parathyroid gland (superior or inferior), quadrant localization (both left/right and upper/lower), and surgical classification among MIBI SPECT, 4DCT, and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT.
Table 6:
McNemar test of paired imaging modalities for diagnostic accuracy of left/right localization of parathyroid adenomas in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | Correct | Wrong | Total | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 28 | 1 | 29 | .56 |
| Wrong | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Total | 30 | 1 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| 4DCT | ||||
| Correct | 29 | 1 | 30 | 1.00 |
| Wrong | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | 1 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 28 | 1 | 29 | .56 |
| Wrong | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| Total | 30 | 1 | 31 | |
Table 7:
McNemar test of paired imaging modalities for diagnostic accuracy of embryologic origin of the abnormal parathyroid gland in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | Correct | Wrong | Total | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 22 | 1 | 23 | .06 |
| Wrong | 6 | 2 | 8 | |
| Total | 28 | 3 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| 4DCT | ||||
| Correct | 28 | 0 | 28 | .16 |
| Wrong | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Total | 30 | 1 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 23 | 0 | 23 | .008 |
| Wrong | 7 | 1 | 8 | |
| Total | 30 | 1 | 31 | |
Table 8:
McNemar test of paired imaging modalities for diagnostic accuracy of quadrant localization of the abnormal parathyroid gland in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | Correct | Wrong | Total | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 19 | 2 | 21 | .06 |
| Wrong | 8 | 2 | 10 | |
| Total | 27 | 4 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| 4DCT | ||||
| Correct | 26 | 1 | 27 | .32 |
| Wrong | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Total | 29 | 2 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 20 | 1 | 21 | .01 |
| Wrong | 9 | 1 | 10 | |
| Total | 29 | 2 | 31 | |
Table 9:
McNemar test of paired imaging modalities for diagnostic accuracy of surgical localization of the abnormal parathyroid gland in the 31 patients in our study group
| Imaging Modality | Correct | Wrong | Total | P Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 11 | 6 | 17 | .06 |
| Wrong | 8 | 6 | 14 | |
| Total | 19 | 12 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| 4DCT | ||||
| Correct | 16 | 3 | 19 | 0.21 |
| Wrong | 7 | 5 | 12 | |
| Total | 23 | 8 | 31 | |
| MIBI SPECT + 4DCT vs | ||||
| MIBI SPECT | ||||
| Correct | 15 | 2 | 17 | .06 |
| Wrong | 8 | 6 | 14 | |
| Total | 23 | 8 | 31 | |
McNemar test results comparing the diagnostic accuracy of left- or right-sided localization revealed no statistically significant differences, indicating substantially similar diagnostic performance.
McNemar test results comparing the diagnostic accuracy of embryologic origin revealed that MIBI SPECT + 4DCT was significantly better than MIBI SPECT (P = .008) and 4DCT was better than MIBI SPECT on the borderline of statistical significance (P = .06).
McNemar test results comparing the diagnostic accuracy of quadrant localization revealed that MIBI SPECT + 4DCT was significantly better than MIBI SPECT (P = .01) and 4DCT was better than MIBI SPECT on the borderline of statistical significance (P = .06).
McNemar test results comparing the diagnostic accuracy of surgical localization revealed that MIBI SPECT + 4DCT was better than MIBI SPECT on the borderline of statistical significance (P = .06).
Examples of correct and incorrect localization are shown in Figs 3 and 4. Figure 3 shows a large right tracheoesophageal groove parathyroid adenoma that was correctly localized by 3 modalities. Figure 4 shows a small left paraesophageal parathyroid adenoma that had correct left/right and quadrant localization by 4DCT and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT and correct left/right localization and incorrect quadrant localization by MIBI SPECT.
Fig 3.
A, The axial arterial phase of a multiphase multidetector 4D CT image shows a right tracheoesophageal parathyroid adenoma (type C; Fig 1). B, Anterior and posterior delay planar scintigraphy shows retention of the radiotracer on the right side. C, An axial SPECT image shows retention of the radiotracer in the lower neck. D, An axial SPECT image fused to a noncontrast CT image localizes the retention of the radiotracer to the right tracheoesophageal groove. E, An axial SPECT image fused to the axial arterial phase of a multiphase multidetector 4D CT image localizes the retention of the radiotracer with concomitant early enhancement to the right tracheoesophageal groove. Red and white arrows show the parathyroid adenoma.
Fig 4.
A case in which 4DCT could diagnose a parathyroid adenoma in the face of a sestamibi study with negative findings. A, The axial arterial phase of a multiphase multidetector 4D CT image shows a small early-enhancing left paraesophageal parathyroid adenoma (arrow). B, An axial MIBI SPECT image fused to a noncontrast CT image reveals no retention of the radiotracer in the left central compartment of a surgically proven parathyroid adenoma, which was effectively demonstrated on 4DCT (arrow). C, An axial SPECT image fused to the axial arterial phase of a multiphase multidetector 4D CT image shows a small early-enhancing left paraesophageal parathyroid adenoma (arrow).
Discussion
Our results showed that overall, MIBI SPECT was less accurate than 4DCT, which, in turn, was less accurate than combined MIBI SPECT + 4DCT. All imaging methods performed equally well in correctly localizing the parathyroid adenoma to the left or right side, and most of the inconsistency between MIBI SPECT and 4DCT was a result of errors in classification of embryologic origin. MIBI SPECT + 4DCT showed clear superiority over MIBI SPECT for embryologic and quadrant localization. Although our results were only marginally statistically significant, 4DCT may be better than MIBI SPECT for embryologic and quadrant localization and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT may be better than MIBI SPECT for surgical localization. The confidence of readers' localizations was generally higher with 4DCT and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT than it was with MIBI SPECT. The differential in both imaging performance and reader confidence decreased as the required level of detail in anatomic localization increased.
A recent meta-analysis of 24 published MIBI SPECT studies evaluating 1276 patients, in which patients with mixed diagnoses, secondary hyperparathyroidism, previous surgeries, and multigland disease were excluded, showed that MIBI SPECT had an estimated pooled sensitivity of 86%.18 In a recent retrospective study of 65 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, MIBI SPECT accurately localized the offending parathyroid gland with an average weight of 0.82 g in 80% of cases.19 Compared with these previous studies, our study showed improved accuracy of MIBI SPECT for left/right localization and diminished accuracy of MIBI SPECT for quadrant localization. This could be explained by the poor image resolution of SPECT and lack of anatomic detail in low-dose CT for discriminating parathyroid adenomas from the thyroid gland. The ability to make this distinction would aid in quadrant localization of the adenoma as well as surgical classification.
Several investigators have shown that low-dose CT added to SPECT or MIBI SPECT can improve the diagnostic value for accurate localization of parathyroid adenomas.12,20 Our study showed a substantial improvement in parathyroid adenoma localization accuracy with MIBI SPECT + 4DCT, or “diagnostic CT” added to SPECT, compared with MIBI SPECT alone.
In a retrospective study of 143 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and no previous neck surgery, 4DCT had a sensitivity of 93.7% for left/right localization and 86.6% for quadrant localization.15 Compared with that study, we report slightly improved accuracy of 4DCT for left/right localization and similar accuracy for quadrant localization. A recent meta-analysis of thirty-four 4DCT studies evaluating 2563 patients showed a pooled sensitivity of 81% for left/right localization and 73% for quadrant localization.21 Compared with that study, we report improved accuracy of 4DCT for left/right localization and quadrant localization. This may be because our 4DCT imaging protocol used 4 phases, similar to the protocol described by Hunter et al,15 whereas the meta-analysis represented various CT protocols across studies, ranging from 1 to 4 phases. In addition, the meta-analysis included studies of patients with previous operations and multigland disease, which, in our experience, are likely to be harder to interpret.
Heiba et al22 compared neck pinhole dual-tracer and dual-phase sestamibi with and without SPECT for localization of 153 parathyroid adenomas, and they found that pinhole dual-tracer SPECT had significantly higher sensitivity (93%) than dual-phase SPECT (68%), SPECT with only pinhole delay (39%), pinhole dual-tracer CT alone (25%), and dual-phase CT alone (18%). In a prospective study comparing dual-isotope subtraction pinhole scintigraphy, dual-phase SPECT, 4DCT, and sonography in 91 patients with 97 parathyroid adenomas, Krakauer et al23 found that the sensitivity of dual-isotope subtraction pinhole scintigraphy was 93%. The sensitivity of dual-phase SPECT (65%), 4DCT (58%), and sonography (57%) was significantly lower. In our study, we confirmed that dual-phase MIBI SPECT has lower localization accuracy compared with dual-isotope subtraction scintigraphy. In our study, 4DCT and MIBI SPECT + 4DCT yielded a sensitivity similar to that of dual-isotope subtraction scintigraphy.
The use of combined CT imaging modalities raises concerns about radiation exposure. The mean effective dose for 22.5 mCi of sestamibi is estimated at 7.5 mSv. The mean effective dose for 4DCT is 17.9 mSv (volume CT dose index = 20.8 mGy). Our effective dose for sestamibi was 7.5 mSv, and our dose with 4DCT was 17.9 mSv. These doses are similar to those in a recent article evaluating the total effective radiation doses associated with 4DCT (20.2 ± 2.8 mSv) and sestamibi (5.6 ± 0.24 mSv) used for parathyroid adenoma localization before surgery.24 The total effective dose of MIBI SPECT + 4DCT is estimated at 27.7 mSv, which includes contributions from the low-dose noncontrast CT for SPECT attenuation correction. Although there are no good data on cancer incidence after low radiation exposure, conservatively, the net radiation exposure increases a patient's annual cancer risk by 0.019% and lifetime cancer risk by 0.52% compared with the baseline cancer incidence.25,26 We believe that this is a favorable risk/benefit ratio given the very small cancer risk balanced against the serious health consequences of persistent hyperparathyroidism, especially in an older patient population.
The main strength of our study is the fully blinded, unbiased evaluation of different imaging modalities, all of which were acquired and viewed on identical platforms, thus eliminating any concerns about image coregistration or image interpretation in different environments. We also used a highly reliable reference standard and defined the exact location of each lesion by cross-referencing the histopathology reports and the operating notes with the imaging studies. In addition, all imaging scans were reviewed by expert radiologists or nuclear medicine physicians with considerable clinical experience in the interpretation of parathyroid localization studies. We directly compared MIBI SPECT and 4DCT as well as MIBI SPECT with diagnostic 4DCT to evaluate the incremental diagnostic value for parathyroid adenoma detection.
Limitations of this study include its retrospective nature and the small sample size. We included only patients with single-gland disease because of the limited sample size of multigland disease and the considerable differences between single- and multigland disease both biologically and in image interpretation. None of our imaging tests could perfectly localize lesions in the surgical classification scheme by Perrier et al,17 but this classification is based on features (such as the location of the recurrent laryngeal nerve) that cannot yet be perceived by imaging and is thus of greater utility in the intraoperative environment.
Conclusions
Our results suggest that although all imaging modalities are useful for localizing parathyroid adenomas, MIBI SPECT + 4DCT is superior and 4DCT is marginally better than MIBI SPECT for determining embryologic and quadrant-level localization, particularly when detailed anatomic information is required, such as that needed to direct minimally invasive (targeted) surgery. This finding may strengthen the role of MIBI SPECT + 4DCT and 4DCT as first-line imaging techniques for preoperative localization. The confidence observed in localization, particularly useful to surgeons who need actionable information to plan minimally invasive surgery, was also higher for 4DCT than for MIBI SPECT. Combined interpretation of MIBI SPECT + 4DCT showed a still further increase in diagnostic accuracy and confidence beyond 4DCT alone, suggesting that 4DCT and MIBI SPECT are complementary modalities, supplying nonoverlapping information that might be useful, especially in difficult diagnostic cases.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank Erica Goodoff for her assistance in editing.
ABBREVIATIONS:
- 4DCT
multiphase multidetector 4D CT
- MIBI
technetium Tc99m sestamibi
Footnotes
Disclosures: W. Wei—UNRELATED: Grant: National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, Comments: P30 CA016672.* S. Cheenu Kappadath—UNRELATED: Consultancy: BTG International Inc; Grants: GE Healthcare, BTG International Inc.* Hubert H. Chuang—UNRELATED: Consultancy: SAGE Consulting. *Money paid to the institution.
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