Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy provides a conservative surgical option for multiple endocrine neoplasia type...

Many authors advocate routine subtotal parathyroidectomy or total parathyroidectomy and autotransplantation for patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Many of these patients are young and recurrence may take decades. Four-gland parathyroid exploration carries a higher risk of complication than minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP). The aim of this study was to assess the role of selective removal of only abnormal glands for MEN1 in the era of MIP.

For this retrospective, cohort study we collected data on patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for MEN1 from an endocrine surgery database. We reviewed preoperative localization studies, operative findings, histopathology, and clinical outcomes.

Twenty-six patients underwent parathyroidectomy for MEN1-associated hyperparathyroidism over the 23-year study period. Six of 10 (60%) patients in the total parathyroidectomy group and 4 of 10 (40%) patients in the subtotal parathyroidectomy group developed hypocalcemia. The subtotal and total parathyroidectomy groups both had a recurrence rate of 30% with a mean follow-up rate of 106 and 133 months, respectively. The MIP group had no hypocalcemia or recurrence with a mean follow-up of 19 months.

MIP with excision of only documented abnormal parathyroid glands provides an acceptable outcome for patients with MEN1, avoiding the potential for permanent hypoparathyroidism in young patients. It is accepted that recurrent disease is inevitable in these patients; however, such recurrence may take decades to occur and may be able to be dealt with by a further focused procedure.