What is a parathyroid scan?
A parathyroid scan is performed to look for parathyroid adenomas.
What should I do to prepare for my scan?
There is no advance preparation for a parathyroid scan.
What will happen during a parathyroid scan and how will I get my results?
The patient will be injected intravenously with a small amount of radioactive tracer. This material goes to the thyroid gland and the parathyroid glands. It leaves the thyroid gland in a few hours but remains in the parathyroid glands. After injection, the patient lies on a table and a camera is placed over the patient’s neck for imaging. This takes about ten minutes. The patient then has a two hour wait. There is no need to stay in the department. After the two hours, additional images are taken with the patient lying on the table. This will take ten to fifteen minutes.
The physician who interprets the scan will send a report to your physician, who will then share the results with you.
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