PURPOSE: Identification of pathologic parathyroid glands in primary hyperparathyroidism, traditionally based on neck ultrasound (US) and/or 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy, can be challenging. PET/CT with 18F-Fluorocholine (18F-FCH) might improve the detection of pathologic parathyroid glands. We aimed at comparing the diagnostic performance of 18F-FCH-PET/CT with that of dual-phase dual-isotope parathyroid scintigraphy and neck US. METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were prospectively enrolled, 7 had normocalcemic hyperparathyroidism, and 27 had classic hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism. All patients underwent high-resolution neck US, dual-phase dual-isotope 99mTc-Pertechnetate/99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy, and 18F-FCH-PET/CT. RESULTS: In the whole patients' group, the detection rates of the abnormal parathyroid gland were 68% for neck US, 71% for 18F-FCH-PET/CT, and only 15% for 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy. The corresponding figures in normocalcemic and hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism were 57 and 70% for neck US, 70 and 71% for 18F-FCH-PET/CT, and 0 and 18% for 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy, respectively. In the 17 patients in whom the abnormal parathyroid gland was identified, either at surgery or at fine needle aspiration cytology/biochemistry, the correct detection rate was 82% for neck US, 89% for 18F-FCH-PET/CT, and only 17% for 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy. CONCLUSIONS: 18F-FCH-PET/CT can be considered a first-line imaging technique for the identification of pathologic parathyroid glands in patients with normocalcemic and hypercalcemic hyperparathyroidism, even when the parathyroid volume is small.

• MeSH
• Choline analogs & derivatives   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Hypercalcemia diagnostic imaging   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Hyperparathyroidism diagnostic imaging   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Parathyroid Neoplasms diagnostic imaging   pathology   surgery   MeSH
• Follow-Up Studies MeSH
• Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography methods   MeSH
• Prognosis MeSH
• Radiopharmaceuticals MeSH
• Radionuclide Imaging methods   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Ultrasonography methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH