Primary hyperparathyroidism: the case for conservative surgery.

Analysis of a series of 205 surgically treated cases of primary hyperparathyroidism was carried out to assess the long-term results of the conservative approach of selectively removing the adenoma only. If primary hyperparathyroidism is due to multiple gland involvement in one-third to one-half of patients, an appreciable number of patients with recurrent disease should have been encountered during this study of the results of conservative no instances of permanent tetany, supports the conservative approach to the treatment when only a single enlarged gland is encountered. Subtotal parathyroidectomy should be reserved for those few cases in which multiple enlarged glands are found, especially in association with multiple endocrine neoplasm, familial hyperparathyroidism, and secondary hyperparathyroidism.