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- Title
Inappropriate requesting of parathyroid scintigraphy at an academic medical center.
- Authors
Kimura, Brad; Nagelberg, Jodi; Koo, Sonya J.; Bykowski, Julie; Brumund, Kevin T.; McCowen, Karen C.
- Abstract
Background: Primary hyperparathyroidism is a biochemical, not radiologic diagnosis. Parathyroid scintigraphy should only be requested for surgical planning, not to confirm diagnosis. Here we determined reasons for inappropriately ordered parathyroid scintigraphy. Methods: We generated a database of patients undergoing parathyroid scintigraphy over 5 years, who did not undergo parathyroidectomy. Results: Over 5 years 129 parathyroid scintigraphies (of 308 total scans) were performed in patients who did not undergo parathyroidectomy. We determined that only 58 (45%) had true primary hyperparathyroidism. The most common reason for the scan was to "confirm the diagnosis." Only 20% were ordered for adenoma localization, although surgery was not performed. Physicians requesting parathyroid scintigraphies specialized in a variety of disciplines. Conclusion: Forty‐two percent of parathyroid scintigraphies were requested inappropriately to "confirm" a diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism. We propose to change the ordering system to clarify that parathyroid scintigraphy is a functional tool to optimize surgery when the diagnosis is secure.
- Subjects
ACADEMIC medical centers; PARATHYROID glands; DIAGNOSIS
- Publication
Head & Neck, 2021, Vol 43, Issue 11, p3404
- ISSN
1043-3074
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/hed.26839