Parathyroid subtraction imaging--pitfalls in diagnosis.

Since 1985 when parathyroid subtraction scintigraphy was presented in atlas form in this journal, the T1-201-Tc-99m computer subtraction studies have become more and more popular. Although the study has been quite accurate in localizing abnormal parathyroid pathology, the rate of false positive studies has been somewhat excessive, usually due to thyroid pathology. This atlas is an update of that previous work with the goal of presenting a scheme of interpretation that lessens the incidence of false positive studies as well as presenting many of the pitfalls in diagnosis of parathyroid disease.