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A parathyroid scan is a safe and pain-free imaging tool used by our consultants to figure out the location of one or more enlarged, overactive parathyroid glands. It’s also used as a pre-surgery tool for people with primary hyperparathyroidism who can have surgery to remove overactive parathyroid glands.
The imaging test itself is usually an ultrasound or a nuclear scan, with the most common type of parathyroid scan known as a sestamibi scan.
Your parathyroid glands form part of your endocrine system, and control the amount of calcium in your blood and in your bones by producing parathyroid hormone.
Most people have four parathyroid glands; small, pea-sized glands located behind your thyroid in your neck. In some cases, the parathyroid glands are located along your oesophagus or in your chest. These are known as ectopic (in an abnormal place) parathyroid glands.
Sometimes, one or more of your parathyroid glands can release too much parathyroid hormone in what’s known as primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Too much parathyroid hormone causes the levels of calcium in your blood to rise, a condition known as hypercalcemia.
The cost of a parathyroid scan depends on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.
Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.
Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.
A parathyroid scan is used to detect and locate overactive parathyroid glands, and to help diagnose the cause of abnormal parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels.
From there, the scan is used by our surgeons to help plan minimally invasive procedures to treat hyperparathyroidism.
A parathyroid scan involves the use of a small amount of radioactive material, typically technetium-99m sestamibi, being injected into the bloodstream, usually through a vein in your arm.
The radioactive material travels along to your thyroid and parathyroid glands. A gamma camera is then used to capture images of these glands. The sestamibi is absorbed more by overactive parathyroid glands, making them visible on the scan.
Sometimes, a CT scan is also used in conjunction with the parathyroid scan to give even more detailed images.
People who have symptoms or blood test results indicating hyperparathyroidism may need a parathyroid scan.
Symptoms of hyperparathyroidism include:
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Bone pain
- Frequent urination
- Kidney stones
If you have a blood test that shows high levels of calcium and PTH, these could also indicate that a parathyroid scan is worth having.
The main benefit of a parathyroid scan is its ability to find and show overactive parathyroid glands, which is crucial for effective treatment. The scan is painless, non-invasive and relatively quick, usually taking between two to three hours.
Each scan provides invaluable information that helps consultants diagnose parathyroid disorders and plan surgical interventions, often allowing for minimally invasive surgery that reduces recovery time and complications.
In your pre-scan consultation, your consultant will give you detailed instructions based on your individual circumstances.
As certain medications can interfere with the scan, you may be asked to stop taking the medication before your scan, and may be asked not to start taking your medication again for a period of time after your scan, too.
Before your parathyroid scan, you’ll be asked to confirm you’re not allergic to iodine and that you’re not pregnant. If you’re not sure if you’re pregnant, you may be asked to take a pregnancy test to confirm you’re not before the procedure can go ahead.
You should also remove any jewellery and metal objects from your chest and neck area.
Shortly after arriving for your scan, you’ll be given an injection of a radioactive sestamibi tracer, usually through a vein in your arm. You might notice a metallic taste soon after the injection, but this should last less than a minute.
Just before the scan begins, you may be asked to empty your bladder and remove anything metal from your neck or chest area.
After a short wait to let the tracer circulate and get absorbed by your thyroid and parathyroid glands you’ll be asked to lie down, and a radiographer will use a gamma camera to take a series of images of your neck and chest area. This scan should last approximately 40 minutes.
In some cases, your radiographer may perform a second set of scans between one to two hours after your first scan. This scan should last approximately 30 minutes.
After the scan, you can usually leave the hospital and resume your normal activities immediately. The radioactive material used in the scan will naturally leave your body when you urinate the next day or so. It’s important to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the tracer out of your system.
In the meantime, your consultant will review the images and discuss the results with you at a follow-up appointment.
The most common condition investigated with a parathyroid scan is hyperparathyroidism, which is when one or more of your parathyroid glands becomes overactive and produces too much PTH.
If untreated, excess levels of parathyroid hormone can cause health issues such as osteoporosis, kidney stones, and other calcium-related problems.
Parathyroid scans can also be used to investigate:
- Parathyroid adenomas (benign tumours)
- Hyperplasia (enlargement of the parathyroid glands)
- Parathyroid cancer
While parathyroid scans are suitable for most people, it’s not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women due to the use of radioactive material. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any other health concerns, discuss your options with your consultant.
As parathyroid scans are non-invasive, you can return to your usual activities straight after the scan.
After leaving the scan, it’s recommended to drink plenty of fluids to help flush the radioactive tracer from your body.
Your parathyroid results are usually interpreted by a radiologist or nuclear medicine specialist. The images will show areas where the radioactive tracer has gathered, which indicates overactive parathyroid tissue.
Don’t worry if this doesn’t make sense at this stage. Your consultant will explain the findings and discuss the next steps in your diagnosis and treatment plan.
If the scan indicates an overactive parathyroid gland, your consultant might recommend a parathyroidectomy to remove the overactive gland.
Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in January 2025. Next review due January 2027.
- Parathyroid scan, Cleveland Clinic
- Parathyroid MIBI scan, Inside Radiology
- Nuclear Medicine Parathyroid Scan, East Sussex NHS
- Information about your parathyroid scan, The Christie NHS
