Efficacy of Selective Unilateral Exploration in Hyperparathyroidism Based on Localization Tests

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the success of unilateral exploration vs bilateral exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism and to analyze the validity of preoperative localization tests. Design: Case-control study of patients who underwent surgical exploration (unilateral, n=43; bilateral, n=57) by 1 surgeon from January 1991 through May 1996 and who had ultrasound examination of the neck and thallium-technetium scintigraphy performed before parathyroid surgery. Initially, unilateral exploration was used sparingly, but it became the standard approach in 1994 if localization was correct. Setting: Urban multispecialty clinic, teaching hospital. Patients: One hundred consecutive patients who underwent surgical exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism. Interventions: Ultrasonography of the neck, thalliumtechnetium scintigraphy, and parathyroidectomy. Main Outcome Measures: Imaging success, operative success, and operative time. Results: In 94 patients with solitary adenomas, the adenoma was demonstrated by ultrasound scans in 66%, by thallium-technetium scintigraphy in 83%, and by either test in 87%. Correct identification by ultrasonography was 59%; by thallium-technetium scintigraphy, 75%; and together, 73%. Of 6 patients with multiple-gland disease, 2 were correctly identified by localization tests and 9 of 15 abnormal glands were demonstrated. Of the 43 unilateral explorations, 43 single adenomas and no cases of multiple-gland disease were identified; of the 57 bilateral explorations, 51 single adenomas and 6 cases of multiple-gland disease were identified. No complications occurred in either group. Hypercalcemia persisted in 3 patients who underwent bilateral exploration and recurrent hypercalcemia developed in 1 patient in each group. The average operative time for the unilateral procedure was 105 minutes, and for the bilateral procedure, 184 minutes (P<.001). Since 1994, 31 (66%) of 47 patients have had unilateral exploration based on correct localization tests. Conclusions: Unilateral exploration that is based on the results of localization tests requires less operative time and produces results similar to bilateral exploration. Arch Surg. 1997;132:886-891

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: