High-resolution real-time sonography of the parathyroid.

Abstract

High-resolution real-time sonography was performed in 45 patients with the clinical diagnosis of hypercalcemia and suspected hyperparathyroidism. There were 35 true positives, 4 false positives, 5 false negatives and 1 true negative. The sensitivity of the technique was 88%, the specificity was 96% and the predictive value was 90%. Sonography is the procedure of choice for localization of the enlarged parathyorid gland before the neck is surgically explored.