[Preoperative scintigraphic localization of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands].

Preoperative identification of hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands was performed by 99m-Tc-sestamibi scintigrams in 29 patients with hyperparathyroidism. Out of 30 histopathologically proven diseased parathyroid glands 21 were identified by scintigraphy. The diagnostic specificity (PVpos) was 88%. All diseased glands weighing more than 1200 mg were identified by scintigraphy including four glands in the mediastinum. 99m-Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy can identify the larger hyperfunctioning parathyroid glands with high reliability. The method was of great value in situations with ectopic abnormal parathyroid glands.