[Diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism by selective determination of parathyroid hormones]

Due to a hypercalcaemia and changeably appearing hypercalciuria 13 patients with relapsing urolithiasis were under suspicion of a primary hyperparathyroidism. After selective sounding and withdrawal of blood from the cervical veins in all cases the determination of parathormones was performed and always an increased activity of parathormones was found. The exploration of the cervical region carried out could in 11 performed operations in 8 cases prove an adenoma and in 3 cases a hyperplasia as cause of hyperparathyroidism. A localization of the suspected adenoma was in 5 cases possible in combination with the angiography of the thyroid gland. By equally high activity in 3 cases no clear evidence was possible. An improvement of the diagnostics of localization might be achieved by supraselective sounding of the veins. On principle the authors recommend to perform a selective determination of parathormones before operation, which in case of need is to be supplemented by a selective angiography of the thyroid gland.