The role of preoperative localization in primary hyperparathyroidism

Hyperparathyroidism is being increasingly recognized by the detection of hypercalcemia on routine blood chemistry. Improvement in preoperative localization has been proposed as a way to decrease operative time and decrease morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively review the Guthrie Clinic experience of parathyroidectomy with and without preoperative localization. One hundred nineteen patients who presented with primary hyperparathyroidism between 1983 and 1990 were evaluated. There were 27 males and 91 females with an average age of 61. Preoperative localization resulted in a significant decrease in operative time with preoperative localization decreasing operative time from 97 minutes without localization to 70 minutes with localization. Also, complications were less in patients undergoing preoperative localization (5.8% versus 13.9%). Preoperative localization was positively affected by gland size, with larger glands being easier to localized. In conclusion, accurate preoperative localization decreases operative time and decreases complications in this series of patients undergoing exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism. In our institution the thallium technitium scan is most accurate and is the localization procedure of choice.