Chapter 0: Introduction to the consensus on primary hyperparathyroidism from the French Society of Endocrinology, French speaking Association of Endocrine Surgery and French Society of Nuclear Medicine.

This consensus on primary hyperparathyroidism, drawn up under the aegises of the French Society of Endocrinology (SFE), French speaking Association of Endocrine Surgery (AFCE) and French Society of Nuclear Medicine (SFMN), provides an update on positive, etiological and differential diagnosis and treatment in primary hyperparathyroidism. These recommendations take account of recent increase in the prevalence of primary hyperparathyroidism, due to 1. More systematic routine measurement of blood calcium and improved quality of parathyroid hormone assays, 2. Developments in genetics, 3. The steady increase in life expectancy, affecting the long-term consequences of asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism, 4. Advances in parathyroid imaging, 5. Targeted surgical management, 6. Therapeutic alternatives when surgery is contraindicated, and 7. Better understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms and hence of differential diagnoses, and in particular secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism. The consensus is published in French on the Société Française d'Endocrinologie website (https://www.sfendocrino.org/), and in English in the Annales d'Endocrinologie/Annals of Endocrinology and the Journal of Visceral Surgery. A summary for general practitioners will be made available on the French Health Authority (HAS) website (https://www.has-sante.fr/).