Follow up from sestamibi scan

[Mtraynor]

Hi following a sestamibi scan I have now been asked to go for a chest X-ray I knew I was having a bone and kidney scan but a chest X-ray wasent mentioned has anyone else had this

[humanbean]

What is a sestamibi scan and why did you have it done?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

It will most likely be a parathyroid scan.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Techn...

Maybe worth reading this (whilst remembering that however good they are, it is a private parathyroid centre that operates for profit):

parathyroid.com/sestamibi.htm

I don't think we have anything like enough information to even guess why a chest X-ray.

[humanbean in reply to helvella]

Wow, that second link is a bit of an eye-opener!

Thanks for the info, helvella.

[Mtraynor in reply to helvella]

I recieved a letter today apparently the scan showed lucency In left and right clavicle so need chest xray to rule out abnormalities

[elaine2447 in reply to Mtraynor]

Only just saw your latest reply. If you have had primary hyperparathryoidism confirmed it could be that you have Brown tumours which are non malignant. They can form in all sorts of places on the bone. I hope you get some answer.

[Mtraynor in reply to elaine2447]

Thanks for that I had the X-ray today and it isn't malignant .it was scary xx

[elaine2447 in reply to Mtraynor]

Very happy to hear that xx

[elaine2447 in reply to helvella]

You're right of course it is a clinic for profit but they are World experts and do around 3000 parathyroidectomies per year. Since the increase in the dollar against the pound it now costs around £12,000 including airfare and accommodation but I had a quote from a London surgeon who wanted £15,000 and there is less guarantee that he will find the little blighter in my neck.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to elaine2447]

Interesting comparison of prices!

All I am trying to do is point out that their website is, to some extent, an advert. They might indeed be the finest surgeons anywhere and do the best operations.

[elaine2447 in reply to helvella]

many apologies I mentioned the name of a gp who deals compassionately with Hashimoto sufferers and didn't realise I'm not supposed to mention names and I've gone and done the same thing here. Will remember in future.

[bantam12 in reply to elaine2447]

Elaine there is no guarantee at any clinic and in fact we have several members on our parathyroid forum who had surgery over there and were later found to have further tumours that had been missed so requiring re ops back here.

[elaine2447 in reply to bantam12]

I know they are not perfect but I think they have a better record than the surgeons here. One friend who is no longer on that group paid and was found that he removed lymph glands by mistake. The difference here is that GPs and endos tend to ignore hyperparathyroidism however ill a person might be if there is nothing showing on a scan or ultrasound whereas Dr Norman goes only by blood tests. They also do tiny incisions and use a twilight anaesthetic. Knowing my luck id be one of the ones he missed. I've had two friends one the same hospital as mine who have been refused even to see a patient in the endocrine department

[elaine2447 in reply to elaine2447]

sorry mobile phone refused to be seen in the Endo department because calcium not high enough and resorted going to Florida and had adenomas removed.

[elaine2447 in reply to bantam12]

I recall three who had re-ops done successfully by mr palazzo . Its tricky I know and one poor girl in oxford had a re op from same well known surgeon but second tine around he cut through her vocal chord.

[elaine2447 in reply to elaine2447]

sorry sounded misleading not same surgeon who was successful.

[Mtraynor in reply to humanbean]

It is a neuclear scan that is used in identifying parathyroids I had this as high calcium levels which usually is due to a parathyroid adenoma

[elaine2447]

Not sure if you are talking about the normal chest x-ray, but if an adenoma cannot be picked up on the sestamibi which invariably happens (even when there is one present!), also can be negative on an ultrasound, the parathyroid glands with some people can be down in the chest. The parathyroid centre in Florida which is mentioned below has posted up a video on youtube showing the various positions these glands can be.