Objective     To evaluate the effect of γ-prober in locating parathyroid adenoma during operation.      Methods     Of 15 cases with parathyroid adenoma definitely diagnosed in Department of Endocrinology

2 were male and 13 were female

with mean age of 41 (range 17-63) years and mean serum calcium 2.94 (range 2.76-3.43) mmol/L. The routine surgical exploration was applied in 12 cases.

99

Tc

m

-methoxy isobutyl

isonitrile (MIBI) at 0.555 GBq was administered intravenously an hour before operation in the other 3 cases and γ-prober was used for the nuclide hot spot following surgical exploration

then parathyroid adenoma was excised.      Results     Of 15 cases

parathyroid adenoma was found in the right in 11 cases and in the left in 4 cases; at superior parathyroid gland in 2 cases

at inferior parathyroid gland or below thyroid gland in 13 cases. Of 12 cases subject to routine surgical exploration

the focus was found and removed by reoperation in one case due to the location variation

and their average operation time was 165(range 120-240) min. With γ-prober

parathyroid adenoma was found below thyroid gland in all 3 cases

and their operation time was respectively 95

105

and 110 min. The serum calcium was below the normal level on postoperative day 1 and restored to the normal by intaking calcium orally or intravenously for about a week. Of 15 cases

11 cases were followed up for 3 months to 10 years

and the main manifestations before operation were relieved.      Conclusion     The combination of

99

Tc

m

-MIBI admininstered preoperatively and γ-prober used during operation can locate parathyroid gland accurately

which avoids blind exploration and repeated frozen section during operation

and is of value in clinic.