Role of cervical ultrasonography in primary hyperparathyroidism

To evaluate the role of USG in the preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas in patients with symptomatic hyperparathyroidism and to compare its usefulness with that of scintigraphy scan and postoperative findings.

Twenty-five patients with symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism were subjected to USG of the neck and nuclear scintigraphy, followed by surgery. The results were independently analyzed and compared with per-operative findings.

The 25 patients had a total of 28 abnormal glands: 22 solitary adenomas, and 6 multiple adenomas (two each in three patients). USG detected 20 out of 22 solitary adenomas and three out of six multiple adenomas. USG missed five abnormal glands, two of which were in the neck and three in the mediastinum. Scintigraphy was positive in 26 abnormal glands, out of which 22 were single and four were multiple. Two abnormal glands were missed: one in the neck and one in the mediastinum.

As limited neck dissection for primary hyperparathyroidism becomes increasingly popular, USG has been found to be a sensitive, specific, and easily available noninvasive investigation for parathyroid localization. It can be easily offered to patients as a method for preoperative localization prior to limited parathyroid surgery outside tertiary care settings.