[Radiologic surveillance of uremic osteodystrophy after parathyroidectomy]

Partial parathyroidectomy (PTX) was carried out 20 times in 15 dialitic patients with chronic renal failure. The operation was suggested by marked radiological abnormalities due to severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, that developed despite aggressive medical and dietetic management. The skeletal x-ray examination showed significant improvement following PTX, that was clearly visible already one month postoperatively at the level of the second and third phalanges of the hands. The improvement of the skeletal osteodystrophic patterns was always associated to a fall of parathyroid hormone and plasma alkaline phosphatase levels. The radiological examination of the hands may represent a usefull and simple method in the follow-up of patients after surgery to assess the efficacy of PTX.