Sestamibi Single-Positron Emission Computed Tomography/Diagnostic-quality Computed Tomography for the localization of abnormal parathyroid glands in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: What clinicopathologic factors affect its accuracy?

PURPOSE: Sestamibi Single-Positron Emission Computed Tomography/Diagnostic-quality Computed Tomography (MIBI-SPECT/CT) is a common technology used for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) localization in clinical practice. However, the clinicopathologic factors affecting the accuracy of MIBI-SPECT/CT and the potential limitations remain unclear. METHODS: Retrospectively enrolled PHPT patients (n = 280) were analyzed from August 2017 to December 2019. RESULTS: Of 96 patients with PHPT (mean age, 54 years; 63 females), 17 had discordance between MIBI-SPECT/CT and intraoperative findings. Among the 17 patients with discordance, 58.8% had major discordance, which occurred in most patients with multigland disease (MGD). Compared with concordant patients, discordant patients exhibited increased frequencies of autoimmune thyroid disease (29.4% vs 10.1%, p = 0.035), MDG (41.2% vs 3.8%, p = 0.035), higher PTH (296 pg/mL vs 146 pg/mL; p = 0.012),and lower phosphorus levels (0.77 mmol/L vs 0.90 mmol/L; p = 0.024). MDG (odds ratio [OR], 16.95; 95% CI 2.10-142.86), parathyroid lesion size of 12 mm or less (OR, 6.93; 95% CI 1.41-34.10), and a PTH level higher than 192.5 pg/mL (OR, 12.66; 95% CI 2.17-71.43) were independently associated with discordant MIBI-SPECT/CT results. CONCLUSION: MGD was most strongly associated with discordance between MIBI-SPECT/CT and intraoperative findings followed by a PTH level higher than 192.5 pg/mL and parathyroid lesion size of 12 mm or less. Surgeons should recognize these potential limitations, which may improve the preoperative procedure by encouraging further localization imaging and promptly facilitate intraoperative troubleshooting.

Variation in surgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism in the US Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system: A 15-year observational study.

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism is underdiagnosed and undertreated nationally despite the benefits of parathyroidectomy. However, the degree of hospital-level variation in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism is unknown. METHODS: We performed a national, retrospective study of Veterans with primary hyperparathyroidism using the Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse from January 2000 to September 2015. The objective was to characterize the extent of hospital-level variation in the use of parathyroidectomy for the management of primary hyperparathyroidism within a national, integrated healthcare system. Rate of parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism was stratified by (1) geographic region, (2) facility complexity level, (3) volume of parathyroidectomies per facility, and (4) frequency of parathyroid hormone testing in hypercalcemic patients. RESULTS: Among 47,158 Veterans with primary hyperparathyroidism, 6,048 (12.8%) underwent parathyroidectomy. Rates of parathyroidectomy were significantly higher in the Continental (17.0%) and Pacific (16.0%) regions than in other areas (11.4%, P < .01). The highest complexity referral centers had the highest rate of parathyroidectomy (13.6%) compared with all other facilities (12.1%, P < .01). Centers that performed the highest volume of parathyroidectomies were more likely to offer surgery (13.3%) than low volume centers (8.9%, P < .01). Facilities with higher frequency of parathyroid hormone testing among hypercalcemic patients were more likely to offer parathyroidectomy (15.2%) than those with the lowest parathyroid hormone testing frequency (12.6%, P < .01). CONCLUSION: Although there is notable variation in parathyroidectomy use for definitive treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism between Veterans Affairs facilities, parathyroidectomy rates are low across the entire system. Further research is needed to understand additional local contextual and other patient and clinician-level factors for the undertreatment of primary hyperparathyroidism to subsequently guide corrective interventions.

Initial surgical results of 500 Parathyroidectomies for Hyperparathyroidism related to chronic kidney disease - mineral and bone disorder / Resultados cirúrgicos iniciais de 500 Paratireoidectomias por Hiperparatireoidismo relacionado a distúrbio mineral e ósseo da doença renal crônica

ABSTRACT Introduction: Surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism related to chronic kidney disease is a challenging procedure even for experienced parathyroid surgeons. Over the years, adjuvant techniques have been developed to assist the medical team to improve surgical outcomes. However, medical staff in poor countries have less access to these techniques and the effectiveness of surgery in this context is unclear. Objective: verify the effectiveness of surgery for treatment of hyperparathyroidism related to chronic kidney disease without adjuvant techniques. Methods: Over a 5-years period, patients with hyperparathyroidism that had clinical therapeutic failure were evaluated for surgical treatment. Total parathyroidectomy with autograft or subtotal resection were the selected procedures. Surgeries were performed in a tertiary hospital in Brazil without the assistance of some of the adjuvant techniques that are usually applied, such as frozen section, nerve monitoring, and gamma probe. Intraoperative PTH and localization pre-operative exams were applied, but with huge restrictions. Results: A total of 518 patients with hyperparathyroidism (128 secondary and 390 tertiary) were surgically treated. Total parathyroidectomy were performed in 81.5%, subtotal in 12.4%, and 61% of patients had a surgical failure. Of all failures, only 1.4% needed a second surgery totaling 98.6% of successful initial surgical treatment. Neck hematoma and unilateral focal fold paralysis occurred in 1.9% and 1.5%, respectively. Conclusion: parathyroidectomy is a safe and reproducible surgical procedure even in the absence of adjuvant techniques.

RESUMO Introdução: O tratamento cirúrgico do hiperparatireoidismo relacionado à doença renal crônica é um procedimento desafiador mesmo para cirurgiões de paratireoide experientes. Ao longo dos anos, técnicas adjuvantes foram desenvolvidas para ajudar a equipe clínica a aprimorar os desfechos cirúrgicos. Contudo, as equipes clínicas de países mais pobres têm menor acesso a tais técnicas, o que faz com que a eficácia da cirurgia nesses contextos não seja tão evidente. Objetivo: Verificar a eficácia da cirurgia para tratamento do hiperparatireoidismo relacionado à doença renal crônica, sem técnicas adjuvantes. Métodos: Ao longo de período de cinco anos, pacientes com hiperparatireoidismo cujo tratamento clínico não resultou em melhora foram avaliados para resolução cirúrgica. Os procedimentos selecionados foram paratireoidectomia total com enxerto autólogo ou ressecção subtotal. As cirurgias foram realizadas em um hospital terciário no Brasil sem o auxílio de algumas das técnicas adjuvantes geralmente aplicadas, como exame de congelação, monitorização neurofisiológica e sonda gama. Exames intraoperatórios de PTH e pré-operatório de localização foram realizados, mas com grandes restrições. Resultados: Um total de 518 pacientes com hiperparatireoidismo (128 secundários e 390 terciários) foram tratados cirurgicamente. Paratireoidectomia total foi realizada em 81,5% e subtotal em 12,4% dos casos; 61% dos pacientes apresentaram falha cirúrgica. De todas as falhas, apenas 1,4% necessitaram de uma segunda cirurgia, totalizando 98,6% de sucesso no tratamento cirúrgico inicial. Hematoma cervical e paralisia unilateral de prega vocal ocorreram em 1,9% e 1,5% dos pacientes, respectivamente. Conclusão: A paratireoidectomia é um procedimento cirúrgico seguro e reprodutível, mesmo na ausência de técnicas adjuvantes.

Initial surgical results of 500 Parathyroidectomies for Hyperparathyroidism related to chronic kidney disease - mineral and bone disorder.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical treatment of hyperparathyroidism related to chronic kidney disease is a challenging procedure even for experienced parathyroid surgeons. Over the years, adjuvant techniques have been developed to assist the medical team to improve surgical outcomes. However, medical staff in poor countries have less access to these techniques and the effectiveness of surgery in this context is unclear. OBJECTIVE: verify the effectiveness of surgery for treatment of hyperparathyroidism related to chronic kidney disease without adjuvant techniques. METHODS: Over a 5-years period, patients with hyperparathyroidism that had clinical therapeutic failure were evaluated for surgical treatment. Total parathyroidectomy with autograft or subtotal resection were the selected procedures. Surgeries were performed in a tertiary hospital in Brazil without the assistance of some of the adjuvant techniques that are usually applied, such as frozen section, nerve monitoring, and gamma probe. Intraoperative PTH and localization pre-operative exams were applied, but with huge restrictions. RESULTS: A total of 518 patients with hyperparathyroidism (128 secondary and 390 tertiary) were surgically treated. Total parathyroidectomy were performed in 81.5%, subtotal in 12.4%, and 61% of patients had a surgical failure. Of all failures, only 1.4% needed a second surgery totaling 98.6% of successful initial surgical treatment. Neck hematoma and unilateral focal fold paralysis occurred in 1.9% and 1.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: parathyroidectomy is a safe and reproducible surgical procedure even in the absence of adjuvant techniques.

Parathyroidectomy in the Management of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism develops in CKD due to a combination of vitamin D deficiency, hypocalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia, and it exists in nearly all patients at the time of dialysis initiation. There is insufficient data on whether to prefer vitamin D analogs compared with calcimimetics, but the available evidence suggests advantages with combination therapy. Calcium derangements, patient adherence, side effects, and cost limit the use of these agents. When parathyroid hormone level persists >800 pg/ml for >6 months, despite exhaustive medical interventions, monoclonal proliferation with nodular hyperplasia is likely present along with decreased expression of vitamin D and calcium-sensing receptors. Hence, surgical parathyroidectomy should be considered, especially if concomitant disorders exist, such as persistent hypercalcemia or hyperphosphatemia, tissue or vascular calcification including calciphylaxis, and/or worsening osteodystrophy. Parathyroidectomy is associated with 15%-57% greater survival in patients on dialysis, and it also improves hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, tissue calcification, bone mineral density, and health-related quality of life. The parathyroidectomy rate in the United States declined to approximately seven per 1000 dialysis patient-years between 2002 and 2011 despite an increase in average parathyroid hormone levels, reflecting calcimimetics introduction and uncertainty regarding optimal parathyroid hormone targets. Hospitalization rates are 39% higher in the first postoperative year. Hungry bone syndrome occurs in approximately 25% of patients on dialysis, and profound hypocalcemia requires high doses of oral and intravenous calcium along with calcitriol supplementation. Total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation carries a higher risk of permanent hypocalcemia, whereas risk of hyperparathyroidism recurrence is higher with subtotal parathyroidectomy. Given favorable long-term outcomes from observational parathyroidectomy cohorts, despite surgical risk and postoperative challenges, it is reasonable to consider parathyroidectomy in more patients with medically refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Acute hypocalcemia following kidney transplantation may depend on the type of remote parathyroidectomy: a retrospective cohort study
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BACKGROUND: Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. When medical management fails, parathyroidectomy (PTX) is a treatment option. The two most common types are subtotal PTX and total PTX with autotransplantation (AT). To date, there is no consensus as to which procedure is preferable, especially in patients who are candidates for future kidney transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify if the type of PTX is a risk factor for acute postrenal transplant (postRTX) hypocalcemia and a concern for problems with long-term calcium homeostasis. METHODS: Renal transplant recipients at Rhode Island Hospital from 2005 to 2014 were screened for prior PTX. Out of 297 participants, 11 patients met the criteria. They were further divided into subtotal PTX (n = 5) vs. total PTX+AT (n = 6). Immediate postoperative (14 days) and long-term (1 year) calcium levels were followed and analyzed. Linear growth models were used to determine the effects of type of parathyroidectomy (subtotal PTX, total PTX+AT) alone on hypocalcemia over time. In these models, pretransplant levels of calcium and PTH were included as covariates. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics showed that prerenal transplant (preRTX) parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were lower in total PTX+AT vs. subtotal PTX (3.5 vs. 247.2 mg/dL, p < 0.005). PreRTX calcium levels were slightly lower in subtotal PTX (9.5 vs. 8.25 mg/dL, p < 0.01), but were within normal limits for both groups. No significant differences were noted between total vitamin D levels and time between PTX and RTX. Within 14 days postRTX, the total PTX+AT group had lower average calcium levels (5.8 vs 8.8 mg/dL, p < 0.001); however, both groups had normal and stable calcium levels from 1 month to 1 year after transplant. This was further supported after adjusting for preRTX levels of calcium and PTH, showing a significant interaction between treatment and time such that patients had lower calcium levels if they underwent total PTX+AT vs. subtotal PTX within 14 days postRTX (ß = -0.204, SE = 0.039, p < 0.001) (Figure 1) but not at 1 year postRTX (ß = 0.035, SE = 0.075, p = 0.640). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that total PTX+AT increases the risk for acute postRTX hypocalcemia but has no effect on long-term calcium homeostasis. We speculate that the acuity of the hypocalcemia may be compounded by high-dose glucocorticoids required for induction, in addition to the preoperative undetectable PTH. Thus, prior to RTX, physicians should take into account the type of remote PTX. If a patient had a total PTX+AT, then postRTX hypocalcemia is likely to occur.
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Underutilization of parathyroidectomy in elderly patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

CONTEXT: Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) disproportionately affects older patients, who may face higher thresholds for surgical intervention compared to young patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to examine for differences in the utilization of parathyroidectomy attributable to age. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with biochemically diagnosed PHPT during the years 1995-2008 were identified within an integrated health care delivery system in Southern California encompassing approximately 3 million individuals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome measures were parathyroidectomy (PTx) and time interval to surgery. RESULTS: We found 3388 patients with PHPT, 964 (28%) of whom underwent PTx. Patients aged 60+ yr comprised 60% of the study cohort. The likelihood of PTx decreased linearly among patients aged 60+ when compared to patients aged 50-59, an effect that persisted in multivariate analysis: odds ratio 0.68 for ages 60-69 (P < 0.05); 0.41 for ages 70-79 (P < 0.0001), and 0.11 for age 80+ (P < 0.0001). The PTx rate for patients aged 70+ was 14%. Among patients meeting 2002 consensus criteria for surgical treatment, 45% of those aged 60-69 and 24% of those aged 70+ underwent PTx. A Cox proportional hazards model showed that patients aged 60+ experienced significantly longer delays from diagnosis to surgery compared to young patients (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: PHPT is undertreated in the elderly. We observed a progressive age-related decline in PTx rate that renders patients aged 70+ unlikely to have definitive treatment, irrespective of comorbidity and eligibility for surgery.

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy under local anesthesia.

Primary hyperparathyroidism is commonly associated with uniglandular swelling, and thus the lesion has been localized before surgical reduction. Since March 1997, we have performed uniglandular parathyroidectomy under local anesthesia with combined scintigram and ultrasound tomography in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism preoperatively identified for uniglandular swelling. We had seen consecutive 18 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism until April 2001; 15 of those underwent surgical reduction. Postoperative intact PTH value was normalized in 14 patients. The remaining patient, diagnosed with thyroid adenoma, required re-surgery due to proved intake on scintigram a year later. Mean follow-up period is 33 months, and the disease does not relapse. In addition, we removed the swollen gland in two patients with renal hyperparathyroidism under local anesthesia; the disease involved two glands in a patient and one gland in another patient. After surgery, their subjective symptoms including itching and arthralgia were eliminated, and did not relapse at 30 and 14 months, respectively. Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy under local anesthesia might be performed as a same-day surgery, and improve QOL of patients.