Incidental breast lesion detected by technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy in a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism

• Main Authors: Sakditad Saowapa, Wichana Chamroonrat, Ronnarat Suvikapakornkul, Chutintorn Sriphrapradang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020-01-01
• Series: World Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• Subjects: breast neoplasms; incidental findings; parathyroid neoplasm; radionuclide imaging
• Online Access: http://www.wjnm.org/article.asp?issn=1450-1147;year=2020;volume=19;issue=1;spage=69;epage=71;aulast=Saowapa
• ISSN: 1450-1147; 1607-3312

Nuclear scintigraphy is functional imaging and can be combined with anatomical imaging to improve diagnostic yield. Detection of parathyroid lesion by technetium-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (Tc-99m MIBI) can facilitate an appropriate operative approach in a patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Tc-99m MIBI is concentrated in highly cellular or metabolically active tissues, which have abundant mitochondria. False-positive scintigraphic findings could be from head-and-neck carcinomas, thyroid neoplasm, and multinodular goiter. In addition, multiple organs outside of the neck region, such as lung and breast, can take up the Tc-99m MIBI. Herein, we report the occurrence of abnormal focal uptake in the breast region during the preoperative localization of parathyroid adenoma and later discovered breast carcinoma.