[Intraoperative parathyroid hormone determination for primary hyperparathyroidism].

Intraoperative parathyroid hormone measurement (IOPTH) has proved to be an important promoter for focused and minimally invasive parathyroidectomy procedures in primary hyperparathyroidism. IOPTH enables multiglandular disease to be excluded with a high degree of certainty at the time of operation. The choice of the cut-off value for IOPTH as the criterion for success is of utmost importance with respect to the prognosis for operative success (biochemical healing). Advantages and disadvantages of the variety of existing IOPTH success criteria are confusing and their assessment is contradictory. Particularly with respect to cost-benefit aspects the standard application of IOPTH as "biochemical frozen section" even in conventional open parathyroidectomy remains a matter of controversy. This article gives an up-date on current knowledge and provides practical guidelines for clinical use of IOPTH.