For the first time, a patient with a parathyroid adenoma-a small benign tumor that alters blood calcium levels-has been operated on using SPECT-CT technology , an advanced tool that combines scintigraphy and computed tomography to accurately identify the affected gland before entering the operating room.
Until now, localization of these adenomas has been a significant challenge. The parathyroid glands, which are only a few millimeters in size, can be hidden within tissues or located in atypical areas of the neck or even the mediastinum.
With conventional techniques, surgery required large incisions and extensive exploration of the neck. The use of SPECT-CT makes it possible to completely change this approach by pinpointing the exact location of the diseased gland.
A “radical” change
The procedure, performed at the Policlinica Group, begins hours before surgery. The patient receives a small dose of radiopharmaceutical and undergoes a SPECT-CT study that generates a three-dimensional map of the neck, where the adenoma is clearly identified. During the operation, the surgical team uses a gamma probe to confirm the exact location and guide the incision with total precision.
“The change is radical,” explains general surgeon Mario Ronquete. “Before, we had to open the neck wider and explore for much longer. Now we go directly to the exact spot. The surgery is faster, safer and much less aggressive.” In this first case, the intervention was resolved with a minimal incision, direct removal of the affected gland and a single night of hospitalization as a precaution.
The technique, comparable to that used for sentinel node localization in breast cancer, reduces complications, shortens surgical times and accelerates patient recovery. Although SPECT-CT is especially effective in single, well-delimited adenomas and has limitations in cases of multiple involvement or complex thyroid pathology, when indicated it has become one of the most accurate tools for planning this type of surgery.
The incorporation of this technology in Ibiza represents a significant advance in endocrine care on the island and reinforces the path towards image-guided surgery, more precise and less invasive, which places the patient at the center of the care process.
