Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회지)

The Korean Society of Radiology (대한영상의학회)
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The Parathyroid Gland: An Overall Review of the Hidden Organ for Radiologists

부갑상선: 부갑상선 영상에 익숙하지 않은 영상의학과 의사들을 위한 전반적인 검토

  • Suho Kim (Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Jung Hee Shin (Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Soo Yeon Hahn (Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Haejung Kim (Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine) ;
  • Myoung Kyoung Kim (Department of Radiology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine)
  • 김수호 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 신정희 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 한수연 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 김해정 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 영상의학과) ;
  • 김명경 (성균관대학교 의과대학 삼성서울병원 영상의학과)
  • Received : 2022.12.21
  • Accepted : 2023.08.08
  • Published : 2024.03.01
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Abstract

Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands that regulate calcium metabolism by producing parathyroid hormone (PTH). These are located at the back of the thyroid gland. Typically, four glands comprise the parathyroid glands, although their numbers may vary among individuals. Parathyroid diseases are related to parathyroid gland dysfunction and can be caused by problems with the parathyroid gland itself or abnormal serum calcium levels arising from renal disease. In recent years, as comprehensive health checkups have become more common, abnormal serum calcium levels are often found incidentally in blood tests, after which several additional tests, including a PTH test, ultrasonography (US), technetium-99m sestamibi parathyroid scan, single-photon-emission CT (SPECT)/CT, four-dimensional CT (4D-CT), and PET/CT, are performed for further evaluation. However, the parathyroid gland remains an organ less familiar to radiologists. Therefore, the normal anatomy, pathophysiology, imaging, and clinical findings of the parathyroid gland and its associated diseases are discussed here.

부갑상선은 부갑상선 호르몬(parathyroid hormone; 이하 PTH)을 생성하여 칼슘 대사를 조절하는 작은 내분비선으로 구성되어 있다. 일반적으로 갑상선 뒤에 4개의 부갑상선이 위치해 있으나 개수 또는 위치는 개인차가 있으며 4개보다 많거나 적은 경우들이 있다. 부갑상선 질환은 부갑상선 기능 장애와 관련이 있으며, 부갑상선 자체의 문제 또는 신장질환으로 인한 비정상적인 혈청 칼슘 수치로 인해 발생할 수 있다. 최근 건강검진이 보편화되면서 우연히 비정상적으로 높은 혈청 칼슘 값이 발견되어 PTH 검사, 초음파, 테크네튬-99m 세스타 미비 부갑상선 스캔, 단일광자방출단층촬영/컴퓨터단층촬영(SPECT/CT), 4차원 컴퓨터단층촬영(4D-CT), 그리고 양전자방출단층촬영/컴퓨터단층촬영(PET/CT) 등의 추가적인 검사가 시행된다. 그러나 부갑상선은 여전히 영상의학과 의사에게 익숙하지 않은 기관이다. 이 종설에서 부갑상선의 해부학, 병태생리, 영상 및 임상 소견에 대해 알아보고자 한다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

Figure 1 was drawn by Da Hyeun Lee, Samsung Medical Information and Medical Services.

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