Parathyroidectomy: extent of resection and late results

Opinion is divided as to the necessary extent of parathyroid resection in primary hyperparathyroidism. Some surgeons urge that subtotal parathyroidectomy be performed routinely, while others reserve subtotal resections for patients with parathyroid hyperplasia. In a review of 102 patients treated by parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism and subsequently followed up for an average of 6 years, there were 73 patients with parathyroid adenoma, 26 with hyperplasia and 3 with carcinoma. The adenoma was not found at the first operation in only 3 cases; in the other 70 after removal of the adenoma no further hypercalcaemia was observed during the follow-up period. Persistent or recurrent hypercalcaemia was a problem in 9 out of the 26 patients with primary hyperplasia who had inadequate resection at the first operation, and also in the 3 patients with carcinoma. Experience shows that peroperative biopsy with frozen section of all the parathyroids is useful in confirming their identity and can be a guide to the type of disease present and the appropriate extent of resection.