Initial experience with intraoperative PTH determinations in the surgical management of 130 consecutive cases of primary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND

Successful surgical management of primary hyperparathyroidism (1 degree HPT) historically has required bilateral neck exploration. The intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IO-PTH) assay allows a more limited procedure by confirming complete removal of hypersecreting tissue.

METHODS

Plasma samples were obtained from 130 consecutive patients both before (preincision and preexcision baselines) and at approximately 5 and 10 minutes (and additional times) after removal of abnormal parathyroid tissue. Samples were assayed for IO-PTH by a rapid, two-site immunochemiluminescent assay (ICMA) with a 7-minute incubation at 45 degrees C.

RESULTS

Plasma IO-PTH decreased by at least 50% in 126 of 130 cases; however, three of these cases were false positives. The four cases in which IO-PTH fell < 50% were classified as two true negatives and two false negatives. A single adenoma was removed in 125 cases, and two or three hyperplastic glands were removed in five cases.

CONCLUSIONS

IO-PTH predicted the postoperative outcome in 125 of 130 cases (96.2%), including two of five cases in which multiple hyperplastic glands were removed, and 1 degree HPT was successfully treated in 97.7% (127/130) of the cases. The IO-PTH procedure can provide valuable confirmation to the endocrine surgeon; however, other sources of information must also be used to ensure that all hyperplastic glands are identified.