Parathyroid ultrasonography in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Ultrasonography of the neck was performed in 42 consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). In 30 patients with subsequent neck exploration, ultrasonography localised 24 of 34 parathyroid tumours correctly (71%), and in 22 patients (73%) the diagnosis PHP was confirmed by identification of at least one parathyroid tumour. In 11 patients - who were not operated - ultrasonography disclosed a parathyroid tumour in four. Of all 42 patients, ultrasonography disclosed at least one parathyroid tumour in 26 (63%). The parathyroid tumours varied in echo pattern, and localisation difficulties were in particular related to associated nodular changes of the thyroid gland and the anatomic distribution of the enlarged parathyroid tissue.