[Intraoperative determination of parathyroid hormone--an alternative to preoperative localization diagnosis].

The results of localization procedures in hyperparathyroidism are not satisfying and amount to 65% for ultrasonography, 63% for CT-scan, 75% for MRI, and 74% for Tc-Mibi scintigraphy. Since 1994, we have performed intraoperative measurement of PTH with a modified immunochemiluminiscence assay in 44 patients. Ten minutes after exstirpation of pathological parathyroid glands, the PTH concentration decreases to less than 40% of the starting PTH level. We think that intraoperative PTH measurement is a rapid and safe method for controlling the success of surgery in HPT and makes preoperative localization procedures unnecessary.