A New Technique for Localization of Parathyroid Adenoma: Infrared Thermal Scanning of the Neck

Many radiological techniques are used to locate the adenoma preoperatively in cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, but the location of many adenomas still cannot be detected. Since adenomas are hypervascular lesions, their temperature is high. Infrared thermal scanning can reveal local temperature differences in hypervascular lesions. The location of the adenoma could not be determined by preoperative radiological examinations in a 58-year-old male patient who was scheduled for surgery with the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism. By infrared thermal scanning, a nearly 2°F higher temperature was measured in the inferior of the right thyroid lobe compared to the other perithyroidal regions. During the exploration, the adenoma was found at this point and removed. Infrared thermal scanning of the neck is promising as a new technique that can be used both preoperatively and intraoperatively to locate the adenoma in primary hyperparathyroidism cases.