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Background With the current aging of the world's population, diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism is being reported in increasingly older patients, with the associated functional symptomatology exacerbating the vicissitudes of age. This retrospective study was designed to establish functional improvements in older patients following parathyroid adenomectomy under local anesthesia as outpatient surgery. Materials and methods Data were collected from 53 patients aged 80 years or older who underwent a minimally invasive parathyroid adenomectomy. All patients underwent a preoperative ultrasound, scintigraphy, and were monitored for the effectiveness of the procedure according to intra- and postdosage of parathyroid hormone (PTH) at 5 min, 2 h and 4 h. Results Mean preoperative serum calcium level was 2.8 mmol/L (112 mg/L) and mean PTH was 180 pg/ml. Thirty-eight patients were operated under local anesthesia using minimally invasive surgery and 18 patients were operated under general anesthesia. In 26 cases, the procedure was planned on an outpatient basis but could only be carried out in 21 patients. Fifty-one patients had normal serum calcium and PTH levels during the immediate postoperative period. Two patients were reoperated under general anesthesia, since immediate postoperative PTH did not return to normal. Four patients died due to reasons unrelated to hyperparathyroidism. Five patients were lost to follow-up six months to two years postsurgery. Of the 44 patients (83%) with long-term monitoring for PTH, none had recurrence of biological hyperparathyroidism. Excluding the three asymptomatic patients, 38 of the 41 symptomatic patients (93%) with long-term follow-up were considering themselves as “improved” or “strongly improved” after the intervention, notably with respect to fatigue, muscle and bone pain. Two patients (4.9%) reported no difference and one patient (2.4%) said her condition had worsened and regretted having undergone surgery. Conclusion In patients 80 years or older, minimally invasive surgery as an outpatient under local anesthesia offered an excellent risk/benefit ratio given its many advantages: simplicity, speed, absence of general anesthesia, ease of monitoring, direct voice control intraoperatively, very low morbidity, effectiveness in treating primary hyperparathyroidism in more than 95% of first intention patients, and the possibility of immediate or delayed recovery in the event of multiglandular disease going unnoticed.

Biology of primary hyperparathyroidism: Selective venous sampling The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is chemical: high level of Parathormone (PTH) in conjunction with hypercalcaemia. In borderline cases with sub-normal plasma PTH and calcium, an oral calcium load test could allow a differential diagnosis from other causes of high PTH. Imaging is required only for PHP. Selective venous sampling can help in localizing a parathyroid adenoma in difficult cases by PTH cartography in the following situations: imaging in favour of an ectopic mediastinal gland or a deep cervical adenoma, persistent or recurrent PHP after first failed surgery with negative neck exploration or unsatisfactory in case of another hypersecreting gland, PHP well diagnosed with indeterminate imaging, symptomatic PHP with normal PTH and negative imaging. Venous blood sampling performed in a vascular radiological department with a quick PTH assay can reveal an area of maximum secretion potentially linked to a nodule localized by previous ultrasound coupled to scintigraphy, giving thus a “biological imaging” study. The association of imaging and biology is an efficient procedure enabling localization of an area of abnormal PTH secretion and characterization of the level of PTH secretion. The area with the highest gradient of PTH concentration can help to protocol CT and MR examination.

OBJECTIVE: To present first-line thoracic surgery made possible by localization studies in three patients with ectopic parathyroid adenomas. DESIGN AND METHODS: Three patients with ectopic parathyroid tissue in the mediastinum were examined by ultrasound, technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy, computed tomography (CT), and venous catheterization with measurement of parathyroid hormone. Without previous cervical exploration, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) was used in all cases to avoid the need for thoracic open surgical procedures. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The mediastinal parathyroid glands were all detected at scintigraphy, and CT and venous catheterization were helpful in anatomic and functioning characterization. All pathologic glands were successfully resected, with only one minor complication. VATS can safely remove a deep mediastinal parathyroid adenoma and avoid more aggressive open approaches. In an experienced referral center, systematic and sophisticated imaging studies may accurately identify and localize rare ectopic parathyroid adenomas, and avoid cervical surgery.

AIM OF THE STUDY The goal of this retrospective study was to recognize the incidence of adrenal tumors called incidentalomas, that are in fact symptomatic or hormone secreting tumors, to assess if the diagnostic criteria proposed in the literature are reliable for adrenal tumors found incidentally. PATIENTS AND METHOD The records concerned 147 patients operated between April 1981 and December 2000 for an adrenal mass measuring 3 cm in diameter and larger on CT scan. Clinical and laboratory findings as well as hormone levels and imaging examinations (CT Scan, IRM, scintigraphy) were correlated with operative findings and results of histologic examinations. One hundred and three patients were operated by a traditional approach and forty four by videoendoscopic techniques. RESULTS In 41 patients (28%), the tumors had to be classified as false incidentalomas (group 1) postoperatively. In 106 patients (72%), the nature of tumor was non definite. In this group 2, there were ten malignant tumors, two pheochromocytomas and 94 benign lesions. Age of patient, size of tumor, increase in size over time and radiological appearance represent criteria that are not reliable to separate malignant from benign tumors. CONCLUSIONS Tumors of indeterminated and non specific nature only should be classified as incidentalomas. Imaging techniques as well as other criteria of malignancy cannot be relied upon to separate benign from malignant tumors. The risk even small of cancer or pheochromocytoma leads us to recommend excision of tumors > or = 3 cm in radiological diameter. The videoendoscopic approach is a good alternative to open operation in centers with this special expertise.

Background: Conventional parathyroidectomy involves a bilateral neck exploration with the patient under general anesthesia with a thorough search for all parathyroid tissue. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia in patients with asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (first-degree hyperparathyroidism). Methods: Of 679 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for first-degree hyperparathyroidism from July 1989 to June 1997, 230 asymptomatic patients underwent unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia. Selection criteria for this approach included the successful identification of a solitary parathyroid adenoma on preoperative imaging, no thyroid disease, and no family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia. Intact parathyroid hormone levels were monitored during the operation. Results: Total serum calcium levels were normal in 220 patients (96%) 3 to 6 months after surgery. Ten patients (4%) experienced persistent hypercalcemia, 8 of whom had multiple gland disease and 2 of whom had false-positive imaging. Two of these patients underwent bilateral neck exploration under general anesthesia and were cured, although 8 patients remained asymptomatic and were followed up nonoperatively. The mean operating time was 30 minutes (range, 12-65 minutes). There were two complications (0.87%) including one wound hematoma and one transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy. Conclusions: Unilateral neck exploration under local anesthesia is an efficacious and safe approach to the treatment of first-degree hyperparathyroidism and should be considered in all patients with asymptomatic disease. (Surgery 1999:126:1004-10.)

The diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) is chemical: high level of Parathormone (PTH) in conjunction with hypercalcaemia. In borderline cases with sub-normal plasma PTH and calcium, an oral calcium load test could allow a differential diagnosis from other causes of high PTH. Imaging is required only for PHP. Selective venous sampling can help in localizing a parathyroid adenoma in difficult cases by PTH cartography in the following situations: imaging in favour of an ectopic mediastinal gland or a deep cervical adenoma, persistent or recurrent PHP after first failed surgery with negative neck exploration or unsatisfactory in case of another hypersecreting gland, PHP well diagnosed with indeterminate imaging, symptomatic PHP with normal PTH and negative imaging. Venous blood sampling performed in a vascular radiological department with a quick PTH assay can reveal an area of maximum secretion potentially linked to a nodule localized by previous ultrasound coupled to scintigraphy, giving thus a "biological imaging" study. The association of imaging and biology is an efficient procedure enabling localization of an area of abnormal PTH secretion and characterization of the level of PTH secretion. The area with the highest gradient of PTH concentration can help to protocol CT and MR examination.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is due to an adenoma in 85% of cases. In 10% of cases, the parathyroid adenoma may be in an ectopic location. Ten per cent of these ectopic adenomas are located in the mediastinum. Imaging modalities performed in persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism include ultrasound, MIBI scintigraphy, venous blood sampling, helical CT and MRI. The authors report 3 cases of ectopic adenoma located in the mediastinum, where pre-operative diagnosis was confirmed using cardiac MRI sequences.

The goal of this retrospective study was to recognize the incidence of adrenal tumors called incidentalomas, that are in fact symptomatic or hormone secreting tumors, to assess if the diagnostic criteria proposed in the literature are reliable for adrenal tumors found incidentally.The records concerned 147 patients operated between April 1981 and December 2000 for an adrenal mass measuring 3 cm in diameter and larger on CT scan. Clinical and laboratory findings as well as hormone levels and imaging examinations (CT Scan, IRM, scintigraphy) were correlated with operative findings and results of histologic examinations. One hundred and three patients were operated by a traditional approach and forty four by videoendoscopic techniques.In 41 patients (28%), the tumors had to be classified as false incidentalomas (group 1) postoperatively. In 106 patients (72%), the nature of tumor was non definite. In this group 2, there were ten malignant tumors, two pheochromocytomas and 94 benign lesions. Age of patient, size of tumor, increase in size over time and radiological appearance represent criteria that are not reliable to separate malignant from benign tumors.Tumors of indeterminated and non specific nature only should be classified as incidentalomas. Imaging techniques as well as other criteria of malignancy cannot be relied upon to separate benign from malignant tumors. The risk even small of cancer or pheochromocytoma leads us to recommend excision of tumorsor = 3 cm in radiological diameter. The videoendoscopic approach is a good alternative to open operation in centers with this special expertise.

An unusual clinical presentation of hyperparathyroidism is reported. The 73-year-old patient was unable to maintain her head upright after ten minutes of walking or standing. Parathyroid adenoma was diagnosed on the basis of ultrasound and pathological findings and parathyroid hormone assays. Following surgery the forward sagging of the head no longer occurred and serum levels of calcium and phosphorus returned to normal. Pathophysiological hypotheses are discussed. No similar cases with isolated weakness of the cervical and dorsal paravertebral muscles has been reported to date.

Primary hyperparathyroidism caused by an adenoma that has been identified and localized by ultrasonography can be treated through a limited approach route, under local anaesthesia, provided the effect of excision is controlled by a perioperative assay of urinary cAMP or, preferably, of plasma parathormone level, and provided the contra-indications of this method are respected. Thirty-three out of 35 patients have been successfully operated upon by this method. In case of failure confirmed by laboratory tests, local anaesthesia was only a prelude to cervicotomy under general anaesthesia.

15 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were studied by Thallium scintigraphy in order to localize, preoperatively, the parathyroid adenoma(s). Compared with the operative findings, the scintigrams provided correct information in 10 cases and false information in 5 cases. These results are therefore inferior to those previously reported in the literature.