Diagnostic and therapeutic determinants in parathyroid surgery: A retrospective cohort study

The systematic realization of biochemical and radiological examinations of the parathyroid has increased the incidence of primary hyperparathyroidism; which explains the increasing incidence of parathyroid surgery. Our study aims to predict the factors determining the diagnosis and management of parathyroid adenomas.

We included 87 patients who presented with hyperparathyroidism and underwent parathyroid surgery. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), and more rarely sestamibi, were performed to localize the lesion preoperatively. Body mass index (BMI), blood and urine calcium and PTH concentrations before and after surgery, and preoperative vitamin D concentrations were evaluated.

In 90.8% of the cases, the location of the adenomas was retained thanks to cervical ultrasound, and in 86% of the cases, the ultrasound results were concordant with the intraoperative results, whereas the MIBI scanner was used in only 6 patients with a specificity and sensitivity of 100%, but these results cannot be taken into account because the sample is too small. No significant association was found between weight and preoperative vitamin D concentration, whereas we find a positive correlation between preoperative vitamin D concentration and adenoma weight (p = 0.001). Postoperative follow-up showed a positive relationship between the onset of hypocalcemia and vitamin D deficiency, and an inverse correlation between PTH concentration and postoperative hypocalcemia. All patients with an unknown vitamin profile (n:4) who developed postoperative hypocalcemia had a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2. The higher the PTH concentration in the preoperative period, the more profound the hypocalcemia.

Further studies are needed to explore the role of vitamin D in the localization of parathyroid adenomas on the one hand, and to properly document the association between BMI and preoperative PTH concentration on the other.