Significance of parathyroid scintigraphy and correlation of findings with parathyroid hormone values in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Aim To compare finding of thyroid gland scintigraphy with serum concentration of parathyroid hormone in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods This retrospective-prospective study included 50 patients undergoing hemodialysis with established hyperparathyroidism who were treated at Cantonal Hospital Zenica in the period 2009 - 2014. Besides anthropological data, concentration of parathyroid hormone in serum of patients was monitored too. Scintigraphy was performed at the Department of Nuclear Medicine using two-headed gamma camera Prism 2000xp. Results Of the total number of 50 patients, 24 (48%) were males and 26 (52%) were females. The average age was 49.34±11.82 years. A total of 17 (34%) patients had normal findings of scintigraphy, 11 (22%) had mildly pronounced uptake of radiopharmaceuticals (score of 1), 14 (28%) had moderately pronounced uptake (score of 2), and eight (16%) had intensive uptake of radiopharmaceuticals (score of 3). A statistically significant difference was established in the length of hemodialysis treatment and scintigraphy finding (p=0.041). Conclusion Scintigraphy of parathyroid glands in patients undergoing hemodialysis allows us to select them for parathyroidectomy. Scintigraphy of parathyroid glands and a value of parathormone in serum should be incorporated into the test algorithm for patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism caused by chronic kidney disease.