Minimally invasive parathyroid surgery, the Norman 20% rule: is it valid?

The 20 per cent rule proposed by Norman established a guideline using radioactivity in the minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) technique to localize and confirm removal of an abnormal parathyroid gland in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. If radioactivity in the resected gland was at least 20 per cent of excision site/background radioactivity, the 20 per cent rule was satisfied. Patients meeting these criteria underwent unilateral MIRP without intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay or intraoperative frozen section.

Parathyroidectomy in the elderly population: does age really matter?

Objectives/hypothesis: Compare parathyroidectomy patients based on age, including demographics, outcomes, and complications.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Methods: Prospective parathyroidectomy database covering 1998 to 2007 was reviewed retrospectively.

Intra-operative parathyroid identification using methylene blue in parathyroid surgery.

The objective of this study was to determine the value of intra-operative methylene blue (MB) during parathyroid surgery. We did a retrospective study of 473 patients after initial exploration for previously untreated symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism. Procedural and post procedural data were collected on four groups of patients: minimally invasive parathyroidectomy with MB (n = 147), and without MB (n = 205), bilateral parathyroid exploration with intra-operative parathormone assay with MB (n = 56), and without MB (n = 65).

Hypocalcemia after neck exploration for untreated primary hyperparathyroidism.

Hypocalcemia after neck exploration for hyperparathyroidism is an important postoperative management issue. With increasing acceptance of less invasive surgical approaches, hypocalcemia is less frequent. This study was conducted to evaluate postoperative hypocalcemia after current surgical exploration techniques in patients with untreated primary hyperparathyroidism.

Toxic metabolic encephalopathy after parathyroidectomy with methylene blue localization.

Objective: To determine the correlation between methylene blue use and toxic metabolic encephalopathy in patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Study Design And Setting: A retrospective study of 193 patients was performed to collect demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (postoperative neurological sequelae) and Group B (no neurological sequelae).

Unilateral cervical surgical exploration aided by intraoperative parathyroid hormone monitoring in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and equivocal sestamibi scan results.

Hypothesis: Equivocal parathyroid technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scan results are likely to demonstrate the correct location for parathyroid adenomas.

Design: Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism prospectively consented to participate in an institutional review board-approved study. The parathyroid technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scan results were classified as positive, negative, or equivocal.

Advantages of a targeted approach in minimally invasive radioguided parathyroidectomy surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Objective: In a large series of patients, we associated the need for preoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcium levels as a vital component in our approach to the radioguided minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIRP) procedure. Our objective was to determine whether these preoperative levels indeed complemented the procedure. Our study also included a postoperative assessment of excised gland volume and length of operation.

Three-year financial analysis of minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy.

Minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy (MIRP) has had a high success rate in correcting hypercalcemia, along with a low morbidity rate and high patient satisfaction. Our study was conducted in an attempt to analyze the cost-effectiveness of MIRP in patients treated for primary hyperparathyroidism. We conducted a retrospective study of the total charges of three groups of patients undergoing surgery for previously untreated hyperparathyroidism in a single health care system.