Differential diagnosis of hypercalcaemia and indications for treatment.

Primary HPT is a common medical problem of the middle-aged and elderly. The diagnosis is generally simple and seldom requires elaborate studies. The precise consequences of mild-to-moderate virtually asymptomatic disease are not clarified and provided there is regular follow-up attendance expectancy may be justified. In most patients, however, the experienced surgeon will have a more than 90% chance of success at the first exploration, which for the patient is a fairly safe procedure.