Surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly patient

The treatment of 11 elderly patients with primary hyperparathyroidism is described. All the patients underwent exploration of the neck and removal of a parathyroid adenoma, and the operation was well tolerated. After surgery, serum Ca concentrations returned to normal. The commonest symptoms in these elderly patients before operation included extreme fatigue, muscle weakness, mental disturbances, personality changes, severe depression, psychosomatic retardation and mild-to-severe dementia; all improved dramatically.