SIMULTANEOUS PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM AND NODULAR THYROID-DISEASE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 92  (3) , 454-458
Abstract
If 351 patients treated for primary hyperparathyroidism from 1966-1981, 70 (20%) had grossly evident nodular thyroid disease at the time of subtotal parathyroidectomy. These patients were reviewed to determine if prior radiation exposure may play a role in their coexistence and if combined subtotal parathyroidectomy and thyroidectomy are safe and efficaciuis. Thirty-three of the 70 patients (47%) had received prior radiation therapy for benign conditions of the head and neck. Nine of 15 patients with nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma had received previous irradiation. In addition to subtotal parathyroidectomy, 28 patients underwent total thyroidectomy, 14 underwent bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy and 28 underwent unilateral lobectomy. There were no deaths and no permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury from combined subtotal parathyroidectomy and thyroidectomy. Two patients in whom parathyroid tissue was not autotransplanted required Ca and vitamin D supplementation. Primary hyperparathyroidism and nodular thyroid disease apparently occur simultaneously with sufficient frequency to warrant careful preoperative and intraoperative evaluation of both glands. Radiation probably does play a role in the pathogenesis of coexistent primary hyperparathyroidism and nodular thyorid disease. In experienced hands combined subtotal parathyroidectomy and thyroidectomy can be safely performed.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: