Parathyroid scans, a painless, non-invasive procedure, can determine which parathyroid glands are abnormal before surgery. Almost all patients will undergo a parathyroid scan, or possibly two, prior to surgery.

 

 

During a parathyroid scan, the patient receives a small injection of a radiolabelled compound that accumulates in the parathyroid glands. The patient lies on his/her back and rests while the scanner (pictured) looks for the parathyroid glands.

 

If the scan detects one enlarged parathyroid gland, then the patient is a candidate for minimally-invasive parathyroidectomy.