[Primary hyperparathyroidism in elderly patients].

Retrospective analysis has been performed in 404 patients, undergoing initial operation for primary hyperparathyroidism for differences in clinical presentation, laboratory data, pathological findings and outcome of surgery. In elderly patients (> = 60 years of age, n = 116), neuromuscular and psychic symptoms, hypertension, cholelithiasis and pseudogout were significantly more common, while renal stones were less common than in younger patients. There were no significant difference in preoperative laboratory findings, parathyroid pathology and surgical cure rate. Parathyroidectomy could be safely performed under local anesthesia, particularly in elderly patients in whom general anesthesia was involved with an increased operative risk. An attack of pseudogout was the most common postoperative complication. Hence, immediate calcium supplementation after operation is recommended in patients with a radiologic finding of chondrocalcinosis.