Evaluation of the microvascularization of pathologic parathyroid glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism using conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound
Issue title: Selected Presentations from the 29th Conference of the German Society for Clinical Hemorheolgy and Microcirculation, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, 17–18 September 2010
Affiliations: Department of Radiology, University Medical Center of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany | Department of Surgery, University Medical Center of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany | University of Saarbrücken, Saarbrücken, Germany
Note: [] Corresponding author: Wibke Uller, Department of Radiology, University Medical Center of Regensburg, Franz Josef Strauss Allee 11, 93053 Regensburg, Germany. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Purpose: The objective was to characterize the microcirculation of parathyroid adenomas using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and to evaluate if it can be used for diagnosis and localization of pathologic glands. Patients and methods: Thirty patients with primary hyperparathyroidism scheduled for parathyroidectomy were enrolled. Preoperatively, all patients underwent B-Scan sonography, Colour coded Doppler Sonography (CCDS), Power Doppler (PD) and CEUS. The diagnostic confidence concerning B-Scan, CCDS, PD and CEUS was classified into six grades (0: no adenoma; 5: adenoma). Results: Using CEUS, all adenomatous glands showed a typical dynamic microvascularization. B-Scan showed a mean grade of 2.18, CCDS 2.29, PD 2.33, CEUS 4.29 (6–9 MHz transducer) and 3.52 (6–15 MHz). The differences between CEUS and conventional sonography were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). CEUS noted a sensitivity of 98.4% and specificity of 98.4% for the detection of adenomatous glands. Conclusion: CEUS facilitates the detection and diagnosis of pathologic parathyroid glands due to their typical microvascularization.
