Surgical approach to primary hyperparathyroidism – impact of preoperative findings on surgical strategy: minimally invasive vs. conventional parathyroidectomy

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive operative procedures to cure primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) are challenging the conventional bilateral exploration in localized single-gland disease. However, concomitant thyroid nodules can hamper the limited approaches. It was the aim of this study to establish and evaluate a standardized diagnostic algorithm, applicable in an endemic goiter region, directing pHPT patients to an individually adapted surgical approach. METHODS: 40 consecutive patients with pHPT were enrolled in a prospective study. According to a standardized diagnostic protocol, patients were selected for either open minimally invasive parathyroid exploration (OMIP), unilateral parathyroid exploration (UP) followed by thyroid surgery or bilateral cervical exploration (BE). PTH was monitored intraoperatively, follow-up was 2 weeks and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: 21 patients (52.5%) were selected for OMIP. 2 out of 21 (9.5%) procedures had to be converted to the conventional bilateral approach. 12 patients (30%) were correctly scheduled for UP and additional thyroid resection, and in 7 patients (17.5%) primary BE was necessary. All patients were normocalcemic at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: 95% of patients could be scheduled for the appropriate surgical approach by the applied pre-therapeutic algorithm. This makes parathyroidectomy a predictable operative procedure in the routine clinical setup even in an endemic goiter region.