Gamma-probe localization of a parathyroid adenoma in the reoperative neck

Preoperative localization of parathyroid adenomas in patients with hyperparathyroidism currently relies on a combination of computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy, and venous sampling of parathyroid hormone. No procedure is universally reliable, however, and in reoperation for missed parathyroid adenomas, development of an optimal preoperative localization strategy becomes especially problematic. We report the case of a patient with hyperparathyroidism who required reoperation for a missed parathyroid adenoma despite preoperative localization with (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy. (99m)Tc-sestamibi scintigraphy was done 2.5 hours before reoperation. On reoperation, a gamma-detecting probe (C-Track; Care Wise Medical Corporation, Morgan Hill, CA) introduced through a right neck incision was used to localize a 4-cm adenoma within 45 minutes. No significant radiation hazard existed, and no special handling of the specimen was required. The patient's hyperparathyroidism resolved within 24 hours postoperatively. Therefore, this intraoperative technique may prove to be a useful adjunct to preoperative localization studies of parathyroid adenomas, particularly in patients requiring reoperation for persistent postsurgical hyperparathyroidism.     

Bronchial adenoma: a malignant misnomer

Bronchial adenomas are a histologically and clinically diverse group of respiratory tract neoplasms arising from mucous glands and ducts of the tracheobronchial tree. They represent 1% of pulmonary malignancies. The traditional concept of a single, histologically benign form is challenged and the malignant potential of these tumors is stressed. Three main cell types with their characteristic histopathologic and clinical features are discussed: carcinoid, adenoid cystic carcinoma, and mucoepidermoid carcinoma. A case of bronchial carcinoid with hepatic metastases is reported, emphasizing the malignant potential of this controversial group of tumors. The appropriate diagnostic evaluation is outlined and aggressive surgical management is stressed. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy which are reserved mainly for palliation do not add to overall five year survival rates.     

Solitary parathyroid adenoma: a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism in children

Solitary parathyroid adenoma is a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism in children. We report the cases of four children, aged 7 to 14 years old, who presented with a variety of symptoms (growth retardation, glomerulonephritis, pathological fracture, mood swings). Diagnosis was based on clinical examination, imaging, and biochemical analysis. Treatment consisted of surgical excision of the adenoma. As diagnosis was delayed in all four patients, we recommend systematically checking serum calcium levels in children with certain nonspecific symptoms. Adenoma resection usually restores normal serum calcium levels and, hence, avoids further complications.     

巨大甲状旁腺瘤一例

患者男,57岁,1年前治疗输尿管结石住院期间B超发现右侧颈部肿块,无临床特殊症状表现.2个月前出现全身骨痛,以下肢、腰部、肩部为主,无厌食、恶心、呕吐、多饮、多尿等症状.因"全身骨痛、肾结石、可疑甲状旁腺功能亢进"于2009年12月入我院.     

Existence and anatomic distribution of double parathyroid adenoma

BACKGROUND: Double parathyroid adenomas occur in 2% to 15% of primary hyperparathyroidism cases, but the very existence of double adenomas has been controversial. This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical significance and anatomic distribution of parathyroid double adenomas. STUDY DESIGN: Mono-institutional retrospective study of the medical records of 183 unselected consecutive patients who underwent intervention for primary hyperparathyroidism between 1996 and 2003. RESULTS: A total of 14 (7.65%) patients were found to have double parathyroid adenomas. Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were measured in every case. Two enlarged parathyroid glands were identified in four possible configurations: two both superior, one both inferior, two both right, three both left, two right superior and left inferior, and three left superior and right inferior. There was a preferential crossed bilateral distribution of double adenomas. In all patients, intraoperative PTH levels dropped by at least 50% from baseline after removal of both abnormal parathyroid glands. In this series, no patient developed persistent hypoparathyroidism or had recurrent laryngeal nerve injuries or neck hematoma. All patients remained normocalcemic 9 to 96 months postoperatively. One patient had persistently elevated PTH values with normal serum calcium levels. CONCLUSION: The drop in intraoperative PTH levels and maintenance of normocalcemia postoperatively confirm previous reports that double adenomas do exist and are not simply missed cases of four-gland hyperplasia. There was a preferential crossed bilateral distribution of double adenomas in this series.     

Minimally invasive management of the mediastinal parathyroid adenoma

INTRODUCTION/METHODS: Traditional surgical management of mediastinal parathyroid adenomas has required mediastinal exploration via sternotomy or thoracotomy. By contrast minimal access approaches to the mediastinum via videoscopic transthoracic or transcervical approaches can offer equivalent visualization, patient safety and decreased patient morbidity. The availability of sternal retractor systems, the rapid parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay for intraoperative confirmation of cure, recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring technique and video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) instrumentation have made this possible. The purpose of this article is to discuss these approaches and the results with their application in five consecutive patients. RESULTS: Five consecutive patients underwent mediastinal exploration of which three were performed transcervically and three transthoracically (one patient underwent both procedures). One patient had a negative thoracic exploration; one patient's course was complicated by transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury which resolved spontaneously. CONCLUSION: Transcervical approaches for resection of anterior mediastinal parathyroid adenomas are possible with the use of the Rultract Skyhook Retractor without the need for sternotomy. VATS provides excellent visualization of the middle and posterior mediastinum avoiding the morbidity of thoracotomy.     

Implementation of a 4-dimensional computed tomography protocol for parathyroid adenoma localization

PurposeTo present the results of our implementation of a four-dimensional computed tomography- (4DCT) based parathyroid localization protocol for primary hyperparathyroidism at a safety net hospital.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism at Elmhurst Hospital Center from June 2016 – September 2019. Patients treated prior to the implementation of 4DCT during October 2018 served as historical controls for comparison. Imaging-related costs and hospital charges were obtained from the Radiology Department for each patient.ResultsForty-two patients underwent parathyroid surgery during the study period. Twenty patients had undergone 4DCT while 22 had nuclear medicine studies with or without ultrasonography. The sensitivity and specificity of 4DCT was 90.4% and 100% respectively, compared to 63% and 93.7% for nuclear imaging studies and 41% and 95% for ultrasound. The mean number of glands explored was significantly less in the 4DCT group, 1.8 ± 1.19 versus 2.77 ± 1.26 (p = 0.01). There was no increase in infrastructure or personnel costs associated with 4DCT implementation.Conclusions4DCT represents an increasingly common imaging modality for pre-operative parathyroid localization. Here we demonstrate that 4DCT is associated with a reduction in the number of glands explored and enables minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. 4DCT is a cost-effective and clinically sound localization study for parathyroid localization in an urban safety-net hospital.     

以梨状窝肿物为表现的甲状旁腺腺瘤一例

甲状旁腺腺瘤是引起原发性甲状旁腺功能亢进(primary hyperparathyroidism,PHPT)的原因之一,其中异位腺瘤少见.近日我科收治一例发生于右侧梨状窝的异位甲状旁腺腺瘤,报道如下.     

Brown tumour of hyperparathyroidism in the mandible associated with atypical parathyroid adenoma

The brown tumour of hyperparathyroidism is a localized bone tumour and an uncommon manifestation of hyperparathyroidism. A 27-year-old woman presented with a mandibular 8 x 10 cm solid mass diagnosed as central giant cell granuloma. Chemical blood analysis revealed increased serum calcium levels of 12.46 mg/dL and the parathyroid hormone level was 124 pg/dL. The patient underwent surgery with removal of a parathyroid mass. Histologically, this parathyroid tissue was seen to be limited by a fibrous capsule with morphological features consistent with atypical parathyroid adenoma. The mandibular tumour has receded and the patient declined further procedures. This is the first case reported of brown tumour as the primary manifestation of an atypical parathyroid adenoma, a lesion that shares some features with parathyroid carcinoma without the unequivocal properties of malignancy.     

Ultrasonography: highly accuracy technique for preoperative localization of parathyroid adenoma

Objectives/Hypothesis: This study evaluates the accuracy of ultrasonography in guided unilateral parathyroidectomy to treat primary hyperparathyroidism. Study Design: Retrospective study. Methods: Two hundred fifty-three patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent preoperative ultrasonography. Two groups were defined. Group 1 included the patients in whom the preoperative cervical ultrasound localized one abnormal parathyroid gland; these patients underwent unilateral surgical exploration of the neck under local anesthesia. Group 2 included the patients who had a bilateral neck exploration under general anesthesia when the preoperative examination was equivocal or failed to localize the lesion, when concomitant thyroid pathology indicated thyroidectomy, and when justified by the surgical findings. Results: Sensitivity and positive predictive value of ultrasonography in detecting abnormal parathyroid gland were 96% and 98%, respectively. Cervical ultrasound correctly identified, 96% and 85% of abnormal glands in groups 1 and 2, respectively. The presence of thyroid nodular disease did not affect ultrasonographic accuracy. Sonographic examination decreased the operative time of parathyroidectomy to an average of 15 minutes. Mediastinal and retroesophageal localizations of abnormal parathyroid gland adversely affected the accuracy of the ultrasound. No cervical hematoma was noted. Transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in four patients. Twenty-three patients required postoperative calcium supplementation for 2 to 4 months, and all were normocalcemic at follow-up. Conclusions: Cervical ultrasound is a reliable preoperative exploration allowing parathyroidectomy via unilateral approach under local anesthesia.     

Sudden recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis due to apoplexy of parathyroid adenoma

Neoplastic lesions of the parathyroid are rare, and most of these are adenomas. Even rarer is a secondary involvement of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. A case is presented of sudden onset hoarseness in a 64-year-old man caused by acute vocal cord paralysis due to bleeding within an adenoma of the lower right parathyroid gland. Acute onset of vocal cord paralysis is rarely associated with benign processes; the current case is only the second report associated with parathyroid adenoma.