BBACKGROUND:The aim of this paper was to analyse our own semi-quantitative method of assessing focal lesions localised in pre-operative diagnostic scintigraphy of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) using 99m Tc-MIBI with washout and comparing these data with the result of the histopathological examination (HP). MATERIAL AND METHODS:A total of 40 (37 female, 3 male, average age 58.7 years) patients with a suspicion of PHPT were enrolled for prospective analysis. Dual phase planar and SPECT/CT examination with 99m Tc-MIBI were performed. The tumour to background ratios in the 10 th and 120 th minute were calculated (TBR10 and TBR120) on the basis of the planar acquisition.PTH, ionised calcium and phosphate levels were measured.Parathyroid surgery alone or combined with subtotal/total thyreoidectomy was conducted in 23 (57.5%) and 17 (42.5%) patients, respectively. A HP was performed in all patients. RESULTS:Average concentration of PTH in the whole group was 243.95 pg/ml. There was a statistically significant correlation between medians of PTH concentration and parathyroid histopathological results (p = 0.01). A total of 45 lesions of increased uptake were found in 32 (80.0%) and 34 (85%) patients in the early phase and the delayed phase, respectively.The post-operative material contained 20 (44.5%) parathyroid adenomas, 11 (24.5%) cases of hyperplasia, 2 (4.4%) cancers, 4 (8.9%) cases of normal parathyroid tissue, 2 (4.4%) lymph nodes and 6 (13.3%) cases of thyroid gland tissue.The medians of TBR10 and TBR120 for lesions examined in the HP were respectively: 3.64 and 2.59 for adenoma; 3.08 and 2.18 for hyperplasia; 7.7 and 5.5 for parathyroid cancer, 4.89 and 3.16 for normal tissue and 5.26 and 2.95 for lymph nodes or thyroid gland tissue.A high correlation coefficient of TBR10 to TBR120 in the parathyroid adenoma and parathyroid hyperplasia groups was observed with r = 0.867 and r = 0.964, respectively. The ρr correlation coefficient of TBR10 to TBR120 for normal parathyroid was 0.4.There was a statistically significant association between the HP and TBR10 medians (p = 0.047), but not between histopathology and TBR120 medians (p = 0.840

Ladies and gentlemen. I have the honour to speak at today's EUROINFO conference on the day of the opening of BC‐Net (in Poland). I would like to say more about what BC‐Net is and how important it will be for small and medium‐sized Polish companies, which in a time of economic and property changes are looking desperately for partners for economic co‐operation all over Europe and the world. Poland has the honour of joining BC‐Net as the first country from eastern post‐communist Europe. As Mr Hamelinck has mentioned, other partners such as Czechoslovakia and Hungary will soon join BC‐Net, as well as other partners from outside Europe.

Introduction: Parathyroid carcinoma is the least common endocrine-related malignancy and accounts for less than 1% of all cases of primary hyperparathyroidism. In comparison to benign parathyroid adenoma, the clinical signs (including the presence of a tumour with regional or distant nodal involvement), biochemical abnormalities and metabolic activity are usually more expressed in parathyroid carcinoma. In the presented case report, there were no typical signs and symptoms suggesting the preoperative diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma. Case report: The case was a 52-year-old woman with a history of recurrent renal stones, moderate hypertension, increased total and ionized calcium, low phosphorus, and increased intact parathyroid hormone. The clinical picture and imaging techniques (ultrasonography and SPECT/CT scintigraphy) suggested parathyroid adenoma. However, histological examination of the removed tumour revealed parathyroid carcinoma. Reoperation showed no regional lymph nodes involvement. After 12 months, normalisation of biochemical parameters and reduction of blood pressure from moderate grade to mild hypertension grade was achieved. Conclusions: 1. In patients with parathyroid carcinoma-associated hyperparathyroidism, successful surgical treatment not only restores serum calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels, but may also improve blood pressure control. 2. Parathyroid carcinoma may demonstrate faint metabolic activity in the SPECT/CT study, and its biochemical secretion of parathyroid hormone may be placed in ranges more characteristic for benign parathyroid pathology. Keywords: parathyroid neoplasms; primary hyperparathyroidism; radionuclide imaging; ultrasonography; surgery; blood pressure.ABSTRAKT Wstęp: Rak przytarczycy jest jednym z rzadziej występujących nowotworów układu endokrynnego i odpowiada za mniej niż 1% wszystkich przypadków pierwotnej nadczynności przytarczyc. W porównaniu do zmian łagodnych, objawy kliniczne (m.in. obecność guza z zajęciem okolicznych węzłów chłonnych lub odległych przerzutów), parametry biochemiczne i aktywność metaboliczna raka przytarczycy są z reguły bardziej widoczne. W przedstawionym przypadku nie było objawów, które uzasadniałyby przedoperacyjne rozpoznanie raka przytarczycy. Opis przypadku: Przedstawiono przypadek 52-letniej pacjentki z nawrotowa kamicą nerkową, umiarkowanym nadciśnie-niem tętniczym, podwyższonym stężeniem wapnia całkowi-tego i zjonizowanego, niskim stężeniem potasu i podwyższo-nym poziomym kompletnego parathormonu. Obraz kliniczny i badania obrazowe (badanie ultrasonograficzne, scyntygrafia SPECT/CT) wskazywały na gruczolaka przytarczycy, jednakże za pomocą badania histopatologicznego usuniętej zmiany wykazano raka przytarczycy. Podczas reoperacji nie stwierdzono zajęcia okolicznych węzłów chłonnych. Uzyskano normalizację parametrów biochemicznych i redukcję nadciśnie-nia tętniczego z umiarkowanego do łagodnego stopnia podczas rocznej obserwacji chorej. Wnioski: 1. U pacjentów z pierwotną nadczynnością przytarczyc spowodow...