SOME CHANGING ASPECTS OF PRIMARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (2) , 67-70
Abstract
Patients (98) who underwent cervical exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism are reviewed. The detection of this condition in increasing numbers of patients, particularly those with minimal or no symptoms, is confirmed. Initial exploration was successful in 92 cases using visual localization with immediate frozen section examination of any presumed parathyroid tissue. The high incidence of solitary adenomata (84%) and low rate of recurrent hypercalcemia support a conservative surgical approach as opposed to routine subtotal parathyroidectomy. The most common complication of surgery was hypocalcemia, which is preventable by avoiding routine exhaustive exploration for, and unnecessary biopsy of, normal glands.