BACKGROUND

Hyperparathyroidism (HPT), the result of excessive secretion of the parathormone, is one of the most common endocrine disorders. In most forms of HPT, surgical parathyroidectomy is the best choice.

AIM

This paper aims to examine patients with hyperparathyroidism operated in First Surgical Unit Iaşi, in terms of indications, surgical technique and postoperative results.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

We performed a retrospective study, in First Surgical Unit Iaşi, during 2000-2008. Clinical, laboratory, intraoperative and histopathological data were included in a MS Access Office XP database. Statistical analysis was performed with the SPSS ver. 15.0 for Windows (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Chicago, Ilinois).

RESULTS

There were examined 34 patients with HPT: 32 cases were primary HPT (94.12%), and two cases with secondary HPT (patients with renal failure). The men/women ratio was 6/28 and mean age was 50.09 +/- 2.23 years old. Clinical presentation was variable: the dominant symptoms were osteoarticular (67.6%) followed by neuropsychological (64.7%), digestive (17.6%) and renal (11.8%). Associated diseases were recorded at 47.06% of patients: arterial hypertension--32.4%, coronary heart disease--23.5%, heart rhythm disorders--17.6%, diabetes--11.8%, biliary lithiasis--5.9%, renal lithiasis--8.8% and thyroid hypertrophy--55.9%. In 8 cases, primary hyperparathyroidism was associated with other diseases of the endocrine glands: 4 cases with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia (MEN) type 1; a patient with von Recklinghausen disease; a patient with associated hypothyroidism and diabetes; two cases that with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Positive diagnosis was supported by determining serum calcium, phosphorus and serum concentration of the parathormone (PTH). All patients were evaluated by ultrasound exam; the sensitivity of the investigation was 88.23%. 99Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy was performed in 32.35% of patients with a sensitivity of 72.72%. Parathyroidectomy was performed by Kocher's incision in 88.23% and minimally-invasive open approach in 11.76%. The following types of interventions have been performed: tumor resections (73.53%), subtotal parathyroidectomies (17.6%), total parathyroidectomies (8.82%). In patients with associated thyroid disease total thyroidectomies (26.5%) and subtotal thyroidectomies were done (11.8%). The postoperative morbidity rate was 2.9% (transient hypocalcemia). Histopathological examination revealed the presence of parathyroidian adenoma in 67.6% of patients (N=23), parathyroidian hyperplasia in 26.5% (N=9) and parathyroidian carcinoma in the others 5.9% (N=2).

CONCLUSIONS

The diagnosis of HPT involves positive determination of calcium and PTH. The most useful imaging techniques, are 99Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy and ultrasonography, which locates in most cases, the parathyroid pathological glands. Surgical treatment is the only curative treatment of HPT, with medical treatment only role in preoperative preparation. The precise site of the parathyroidian lesion facilitates minimally-invasive approach. The postoperative follow-up is mandatory because of the increased potential for recurrence and for diagnosis of other endocrine tumors (in patients with MEN).