[Diagnosis at arteriography of parathyroid adenomas. 45 cases (author's transl)]

The authors report the results of parathyroid arteriography in 45 patients in whom diagnosis was certain, with surgical confirmation of the radiological findings in 44. In this group arteriography led to the exact localisation of the parathyroid adenoma in 21 out of 34 cases. The angiographic signs of parathyroid adenomas are not constant and a negative arteriogram under no circumstances eliminates the possibility of an adenoma being present. In addition, the angiographic signs do not all possess the same significance, some being merely suggestive without definitely indicating the presence of an adenoma. By contrast, when there were highly suggestive or definite signs at arteriography, an adenoma was found surgically at the expected site in 21 of 22 cases. Finally, the authors stress the importance of comparison of the results of arteriography and thyroid scan in order to eliminate thyroid adenomas, as well as the necessity of a photographic substraction involving the different phases of the arteriogram, since this may reveal adenomas invisible on standard arteriography films.