Asymptomatic and normocalcemic parathyroid adenoma: detection by preoperative ultrasound

Hyperparathyroidism is often detected in the asymptomatic stage at the present time with the advent of mass screening for hypercalcemia. There may be patients with parathyroid disease who are asymptomatic and who do not have detectable elevations of their serum calcium. Many patients who undergo surgery for thyroid conditions may have synchronous parathyroid disease which is asymptomatic and not detectable by routine laboratory screening. Preoperative ultrasound scans may be of utility in identifying coexistent disease in those patients scheduled for thyroid surgery so that both disease entities may be treated at the same operation.