Parathyroid scanning by computed tomography.

Conventional parathyroid computed-tomographic scanning detected 51% (29/57) of tumors averaging 1.5 X 1.0 X 0.8 cm in size at surgery. Forty-six per cent (7/43) of the scans were uninterpretable due to shoulder-streak artifacts. Using a specially designed patient positioning device and a new imaging protocol involving dynamic scanning and the intravenous administration of a bolus of contrast material, 14 patients were scanned; 78% (18/23) of tumors averaging 1.4 X 1.0 X 0.8 cm in size were detected. All 14 scans were interpretable, and image quality was markedly improved.