Parathormone concentration in the fluid of fine-needle parathyroid biopsy for assessing the effectiveness of surgical treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the work was to evaluate the usefulness of intraoperative determination of parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration in the fluid of fine-needle biopsy lesions of pathologically parathyroid glands for their identification and evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study group comprised 75 patients: 65 women and 10 men, aged 33-78 years (mean 57.5), operated in the years 2019-2020 due to PHP. Seventy-nine biopsies of fine-needle aspiration lesions were assessed intraoperatively as pathological parathyroid glands were collected, and the concentration of PTH was determined in their lavage fluid. The results were compared with a control group of 20 patients operated at that time for various forms of goitre, without concomitant parathyroid disease. RESULTS: In 79 biopsies, the presence of the parathyroid gland was confirmed 72 times. The concentration of PTH in the biopsy fluid exceeded the value of 5000 pg/mL 70 times, 1 was 3733 pg/mL, and 1 was 1985 pg/mL. Seven times (8.9%), the biopsy was for a colloidal nodule instead of the parathyroid gland. The concentration of PTH in the fluids of these biopsies was low and ranged from 5.3 to 500 pg/mL. In the control group, the concentration of PTH in postoperative thyroid biopsies was low and did not exceed the reference value range of up to 64 pg/mL. Comparison of the results of the study group with the control group shows significantly higher PTH values in parathyroid biopsies compared to biopsies of thyroid specimens (p = 0.017), with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of nearly 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative determination of PTH concentration in the fluid of fine-needle biopsy lesions with diseased parathyroid glands allows for their identification and evaluation of the effectiveness of surgical treatment of PHP. Testing the concentration of PTH in the biopsy fluid of dissected parathyroid glands is characterized by high sensitivity and specificity of the method. The value of PTH concentration in fluid from parathyroid biopsies does not depend on the cause of PHP.

Surgical treatment of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism with a risk of hypercalcaemic crisis.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of surgical treatment in patients with a high risk of hypercalcaemic crisis due to primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and to determine the best time to undergo surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 2010 and 2019, 627 patients underwent surgery due to PHPT. Sixty-two patients (9.9%) (47 women and 15 men, aged 28-79 years, average 53.7 years) faced the threat of a parathyroid crisis. In these patients, the average parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were 774.02 pg/mL (95% CI: 203-1246 pg/mL) and ionised calcium (iCa2+) 1.91 mmol/L (95% CI: 1.70-2.2 mmol/L). The PTH postoperative concentration averaged at 37.86 pg/mL (95% CI: 9.91-42.7 pg/mL) and iCa2 + 1.11 mmol/L (95% CI: 1.07-1.21 mmol/L). Bilateral neck exploration was performed in all patients with the removal of the affected parathyroid gland and biopsies of other parts. Histopathological examination revealed adenoma in 42 cases (67.7%), hyperplasia in 16 (25.7%), and parathyroid cancer in four of the patients (6.6%). Comparison of tests before and after surgery showed a statistically significant decrease in PTH (p < 0.001) and iCa (p < 0.001) in blood serum. CONCLUSIONS: A developing hypercalcaemic crisis in the course of hyperparathyroidism is an indication for preoperative intensive medical therapy, along with urgent surgical intervention and removal of diseased parathyroid glands. This type of surgery should be performed as soon as possible, even if there are no imaging tests, only based on an assessment of the general condition of the patient and their serum calcium levels.