Ultrasound-guided chemical parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: a prospective study

Twenty of 31 consecutive ultrasound examined patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were selected for treatment with ultrasound-guided percutaneous injection of ethanol (96%) into biopsy-verified solitary parathyroid tumours following a strict protocol with regard to dose, number of treatments and a minimum of 6 months follow-up. Of 18 patients completing the above protocol, a biochemical improvement was observed in 12, of whom eight became normocalcaemic during the follow-up period of 6 months after the last treatment. An obvious clinical improvement was seen in eight of the patients. In four patients, a unilateral vocal cord paralysis was observed, but was permanent in only one patient. Progressive fibrosis of the parathyroid tumours following injections impeded the intraglandular dissemination of ethanol. Another problem noted was the inability of ultrasound to detect multiglandular involvement. We find ultrasound-guided chemical parathyroidectomy an attractive alternative to surgery in patients who are not well suited for surgical intervention. However, the technique has not been fully developed, and in the present study, possible improvements are indicated.