LOCALIZATION OF PARATHYROID ADENOMAS BY ESOPHAGEAL CINE-ROENTGENOGRAPHY

Abstract

Although ordinary roentgenography of the esophagus is occasionally helpful in localizing parathyroid adenomas prior to surgery, the defect is often fleetingly observed and difficult to capture on spot roentgenograms. To investigate the possibility that cine-esophagraphy might obviate these difficulties, 11 patients were studied prior to neck exploration. In 5 patientS, the adenomas were correctly localized. In 2 instances, the side suggested was correct but the adenoma involved the upper gland rather than the lower gland suggested by the defect on the esophagram. The incorrect localization in 4 cases was associated with the presence of thyroid nodules. It is our opinion that cine-roentgenography of the cervical esophagus provides a relatively simple and often fruitful method for the preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas.