Semiquantitative assessment of (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake in parathyroids of secondary hyperparathyroidism patients with chronic renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To explore the valuably influential factors and improve the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) uptake in parathyroids of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). METHODS: The correlation analysis was performed between clinical indices related to CRF and (99m)Tc-MIBI uptake intensity TBR (the gray value mean ratio between the parathyroid target and the bilateral neck background, semiquantitatively calculated with ImageJ software). All clinical indices and TBRs were compared by a three- or two-level grouping method of MIBI uptake, which was visually qualitatively assessed. The three-level grouping method comprised slight, medium, and high groups with little, faint, and distinct MIBI concentration in parathyroids, respectively. The two-level grouping method comprised insignificant and significant groups with TBR greater than or less than 0.49–0.71, respectively. RESULTS: MIBI uptake was significantly positively related to patient age, CRF course, hemodialysis vintage, serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) but was significantly negatively related to serum uric acid (UA). MIBI washout was significantly positively related to patient age but was significantly negatively related to serum phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) × P. Oral administration of calcitriol and calcium could significantly reduce the MIBI uptake. MIBI uptake tendency might alter. Such seven indices, namely the MIBI uptake, CRF course, hemodialysis vintage, serum AKP, calcium, cysteine proteinase inhibitor C, and PTH, were comparable between the slight and medium groups but were significantly different between the slight and high groups or between the medium and high groups. The above seven indices plus blood urea nitrogen/creatinine were all significantly different between the insignificant and significant groups. All above significances were with P < 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Patient age, CRF course, hemodialysis vintage, serum PTH, AKP, UA, phosphorus, Ca × P, oral administration of calcitriol and calcium, and parathyroids themselves can significantly influence MIBI uptake in parathyroids of SHPT patients with CRF. The two-level grouping method of MIBI intensity should be adopted to qualitatively diagnose the MIBI uptake.