Parathyroid Ultrasound Scan

High Resolution Parathyroid Ultrasound

Ultrasound is an inexpensive and non-invasive method to examine and measure the shape and size of the parathyroid adenomas. The exam is usually done in an ultrasound room in a doctor's office or hospital. Normal parathyroid glands are often difficult to see on ultrasound, but abnormal parathyroid glands may be enlarged and can be easily examined through ultrasound. During a parathyroid ultrasound, a handheld instrument called a transducer is passed back and forth over the neck to form a picture of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

The New York Center for Advanced Parathyroid Surgery uses one of the medical industry's most advanced ultrasound machines available. Parathyroid adenomas that previously could not be visualized with older ultrasound machines can now be found with greater certainty. When correctly performed, High Resolution Parathyroid Ultrasound can identify over 50% of parathyroid tumors. Parathyroid Ultrasound is a relatively inexpensive and non-invasive test that does not require radiation. Ultrasound of the thyroid and parathyroid glands is used preoperatively to rule out thyroid nodules that may need to be evaluated prior to parathyroid surgery.

Forn minimally ivasive parathyroid surgery, we perform ultrasound of the thyroid and parathyroid together with a parathyroid scan. The ultrasound provides us with anatomic size and location of the adenoma, while the Sestamibi nuclear scan measures the "activity" of the adenoma.

Typically the parathyroid ultrasound is performed on the day of surgery.  In the ultrasound suite we mark the position of the parathyroid tumor on the neck and this helps to guide our incision placement and our surgery.  Ultrasound performed with the operating surgeon helps us ensure the highest success rate when performing minimally invasive parathyroid surgery.

Learn more about our minimally invasive parathyroid surgery technique.