[Percutaneous transcatheter ablation of parathyroid gland tumors by alcohol injection and contrast media infusion].

An attempt to obliterate the parathyroid glands by a catheter technique has been made in three patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Two mediastinal tumours were defunctionalized with alcohol, and followup for 11 and 13 months showed that it had been successful. One cervical parathyroid tumour was over-injected with contrast medium, but there was a recurrence after 14 months, as indicated by rising serum calcium and parathormone levels. In selected cases the method may be an alternative to surgery, particularly in patients where previous surgery had been unsuccessful or if there is a high operative risk.