Parathyroid lesions: characterization with dual-phase arterial and venous enhanced CT of the neck

AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2012 May;33(5):949-52. doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A2885. Epub 2012 Jan 12.

Abstract

This clinical report describes the enhancement characteristics of hypersecreting parathyroid lesions on dual-phase neck CT. We retrospectively analyzed the enhancement characteristics of 5 pathologically confirmed PTH-secreting lesions on dual-phase CT examinations. Attenuation values were measured for PTH-secreting lesions, vascular structures (CCA and IJV), and soft tissue structures (thyroid gland, jugulodigastric lymph node, and submandibular gland). From the attenuation values, "relative enhancement washout percentage" and "tissue-vascular ratio" were calculated and compared. All lesions decreased in attenuation from arterial to venous phase, while the mean attenuation values of other soft tissue structures increased. A high relative enhancement washout percentage was correlated with parathyroid lesions (P < .006). The tissue-CCA ratio and tissue-IJV ratio for PTH-secreting lesions in the arterial phase were statistically significantly higher compared with soft tissue structures (P < .05). If these results are validated in future larger studies, noncontrast and delayed venous phases of 4D-CT could be eliminated to markedly reduce radiation exposure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aged
  • Contrast Media / administration & dosage*
  • Contrast Media / pharmacokinetics*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intra-Arterial
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Metabolic Clearance Rate
  • Middle Aged
  • Neck / diagnostic imaging*
  • Parathyroid Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Parathyroid Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Radiography
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Contrast Media