[Parathyroid glands radio-guided surgery]

Several advances have been made in the management of hyperparathyroidism. The preoperative sestamibi scan appears to have revolutionized the entire approach to parathyroid surgery including minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Gamma probe is a useful tool that complements a well performed localization of parathyroid adenomas.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the patients submitted to radio-guided parathyroidectomy between January and December 2003 at a Oncology tertiary hospital in Mexico City, for evaluate the results and shows the feasibility of this approach.

Six patients was included, all of them referred to the hospital with the diagnosis of bone tumors or with bone disease suggest malignancy. Median serum level of preoperative calcium was 13.18 mg/dl. In all cases the transoperative localization of the affected gland was possible using gamma probe and according with Tc 99m sestamibi scintigraphy imaging. None perioperative deaths reported and there were no recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries neither recurrent hypercalcemia. Median serum level of postoperative calcium was 9.39 mg/dl. There were at histopathological analysis five adenomas and one hyperplasia.

Radio-guided parathyroidectomy is a useful approach for transopertaive localization of the affected gland, we obtained a 100% success rate, according with the histopathologic analysis and the normal postoperative serum calcium level.