[Role of selective venous catheterization with assay of parathormone 1-84 in the treatment of persistent hyperparathyroidism].

From March 1993 to October 1994, 12 patients operated for persistent hyperparathyroidism had preoperative catheterization of large cervical and mediastinal veins (CLCMV) with determination of serum concentration of intact parathyroid hormone. Other localization procedures included: ultrasonography (US, n = 9), computed tomography (CT, n = 8), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI, n = 5), and sestamibi radionuclide imaging (MIBI, n = 9). A (1-84 PTH) gradient of 1-84 PTH was demonstrated in all patients, localizing a lesion in the neck (n = 9) or in the mediastinum (n = 3). An adenoma was found in nine patients either in the neck (n = 6) or in the mediastinum (n = 3), and 2 patients had glandular hyperplasia. Two patients remained hypercalcemic despite the removal of parathyroid tissue during CLCMV-guided reexploration. An other patient underwent unsuccessful neck reexploration. The sensitivity of other procedures was lower: US: 22%, CT: 50%, MRI: 60%, and MIBI: 66.5%. After a median follow-up of 13 months, 9 patients were cured of their hyperparathyroidism (75%) and 3 had persistent hypercalcemia. Our results suggest that CLCMV with 1-84 PTH measurement is the most accurate localization procedure in persistent hyperparathyroidism.