Minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy in the reoperative neck

Operations for hyperparathyroidism (HPT) in a previously operated neck present a significant challenge and carry much higher morbidity rates than first-time operations. Our extensive experience with minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) for first-time surgery for HPT has shown this method to be a directed approach to the offending adenoma, suggesting that the technique could be used to minimize reoperative neck surgery as well.

Over an 11-month period 24 consecutive patients with primary HPT who had undergone at least one previous neck operation were referred for re-exploration. All patients underwent preoperative sestamibi scanning; 21 localized sufficiently to undergo MIRP.

All patients were cured after reoperation. Eighteen patients underwent MIRP under local anesthesia as outpatients; 3 MIRPs were done under general anesthesia. Average total operative time was 44 minutes, average incision length was 3.0 cm +/- 0.2 cm. Nineteen of the procedures were completed without any frozen sections. There were no complications.

MIRP is extremely effective in patients with HPT who have undergone previous neck exploration for parathyroid or thyroid disease. The technique allows for such a directed dissection that smaller incisions and local anesthesia in an outpatient setting are routine.