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Updated: May 12, 2026
Generation of Hypoparathyroid Rats via Carbon-Nanoparticle-Assisted Parathyroidectomy
Published on: July 14, 2023
Streamlining of intra-operative parathyroid hormone measurements for cure during parathyroidectomy
Debra D Davis1, May C Tee, Julianna Kowal
1Department of Surgery, St Paul's Hospital and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Background:
The timing of intraoperative parathyroid hormone measurements during parathyroidectomy for the treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism is quite variable. Although a 50% decrease after excision is considered predictive of cure, it is not known which combination of measurements is most useful.
Methods:
Two hundred thirteen patients underwent resection of solitary parathyroid adenomas. Sex, age, intraoperative parathyroid hormone level at baseline, before adenoma removal (T0), and 5 minutes (T5) and 10 minutes (T10) after adenoma removal; and 50% decrease were tested for associations with cure.
Results:
A 50% decrease in intraoperative parathyroid hormone level was 95% sensitive for cure (95% confidence interval, 89% to 98%) but did not predict cure for individual patients. A decrease into the normal range was not correlated with cure (P > .50). However, a 50% decrease from T0 to T10 was 97% predictive of cure (odds ratio, 6.5; P = .08).
Conclusions:
The decrease in parathyroid hormone level from T0 to T10 during parathyroidectomy was most predictive of cure of primary hyperparathyroidism. A decrease into the normal range did not improve the performance characteristics of this test.
