Parathyroid surgery in the aged.

The results of parathyroid exploration in a group of elderly patients with the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism were compared with those in a younger group and were found to be similar with 92% cure rate and 3% permanent complication rate. The criteria for deciding to subject an elderly patient to parathyroid surgery should therefore the same in the elderly as in the younger patients and age per se should play no role in the decision. Life expectancy, on the other hand should be taken into account.