Familial isolated hyperparathyroidism: role of intra operative parathormone assay

Primary Hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has been reported to occur in members of same family either alone or in syndromic association. We report a family of patients with multi glandular disease wherein we have successfully used intra operative PTH (IOPTH) to assess the completeness of resection. Three members of one family were affected (One male and two females). Two of them had symptomatic disease whereas one was asymptomatic. Since the genetic studies are not available we used a combination of radiological, clinical and laboratory findings to rule out the other components of MEN syndromes. Extent of surgery in familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP) is controversial. Hence for confirmation of adequate parathyroid tissue resection we used IOPTH. Role of IOPTH has been well established in sporadic PHPT but controversial in multi glandular syndromes. IOPTH was successfully used to confirm the excision and establish cure.