Multimodality imaging of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.

Nuclear imaging of the thyroid and parathyroid glands has evolved from early radionuclide rectilinear thyroid scanning to the recently developed dual isotope subtraction technique for detecting parathyroid lesions. At the same time, x-ray fluorescent scanning, ultrasound, x-ray computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging have improved identification of these endocrine organs. The appropriate use and relative role of these imaging modalities in the investigation of patients with thyroid and parathyroid diseases is discussed.