Рreoperative diagnosis of parathyroid gland pathology by methods of radiological diagnostics

Introduction. Recently, surgeons have been using minimally invasive methods to treat parathyroid gland pathology. More selective surgical approaches are based on the accuracy of preoperative diagnostic methods. Various radiological diagnostic techniques are used to visualize parathyroid gland pathology. New modalities are entering clinical practice along with long-known techniques. The attending physician should be guided by the most clinically effective and economically reasonable algorithm when choosing diagnostic algorithm. The aim of the study was to find the optimal diagnostic protocol for preoperative diagnosis of parathyroid gland pathology on the basis of available data. Conclusion. Preoperative imaging of parathyroid glands continues to evolve with changes of old techniques and appearance of new ones, though none of modalities has a clear advantage. The choice of imaging algorithm is largely based on the availability of techniques and the experience of particular diagnostic centers. Ultrasound and planar scintigraphy are well established and most widely used. The combination of these techniques remains the first line of diagnosis in preoperative imaging. However, there is no consensus on the choice between planar scintigraphy tech niques: the washout method or the subtraction method. Replacing planar scintigraphy with SPECT/CT improves the detectability of pathological masses and clarifies their topographic location. Computed tomography and MRI techniques are used as a second-line technique and have an advantage in small adenoma sizes, multiple lesions, ectopias, reoperations, and in case of ambiguous ultrasound and scintigraphy data. The significance of PET/CT in the diagnosis of thyroid pathology has not yet been defined, the data are still scarce and published studies are very heterogeneous, but due to the excellent diagnostic characteristics the method seems very promising, in particular in patients with persistent disease.