Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy with or without intraoperative parathyroid hormone for primary hyperparathyroidism

Clinical, Biochemical and Surgical Outcomes of Primary Hyperparathyroidism in the Present Era: A Prospective Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) has undergone a considerable change from being symptomatic to asymptomatic. This is the first large study from North India to study the clinical and biochemical features and surgical outcomes in the present era. Study design This is a cross-sectional study that was conducted in the Department of Endocrinology (SKIMS) from February 2021 to December 2022, in which 103 patients diagnosed with PHPT were included. Evaluation included measurement of total calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphate, intact parathyroid hormone, 25-hydroxy vitamin, 24-hour urinary calcium, radiological survey of hands and skull, Dual Energy X-ray absorptiometry, and ultrasonography (USG) of the abdomen. USG neck and technetium-99m sestamibi scans were used for preoperative localization; however, in cases of discordance between these investigations or suspicions of multi-glandular disease, four-dimensional computerized tomography of the neck was used. Patients were subjected to surgery according to the guidelines and monitored post-surgery for complications like hypocalcemia and hungry bone syndrome and to document the cure. Results The mean age of patients was 42.8±14.73 years, with a female-to-male ratio of 4.4:1. The mean eGFR of patients was 99.1±30.87 ml/min, with 55 (53.4%) of them having renal disease. Osteoporosis and fractures were present in 41 (39.8%) and 5 (4.8%) patients, respectively. Cholelithiasis and pancreatitis were present in 25 (24.3%) and 5 (4.9%) patients, respectively. Hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) were the commonest comorbidities, which were present in 34 (33.1%) and 15 (14.5%) patients, respectively. Mean preoperative levels of calcium, phosphorus (PO4), alkaline phosphate (ALP), intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), 25(OH)vitamin D, and 24-hour urinary calcium were 12.1 mg/dl, 2.35 mg/dl, 210.2 U/L, 332.9 pg/ml, 25.7 ng/ml, and 452.1 mg/day, respectively. The most common type was right inferior parathyroid adenoma, present in 45 cases (43.7%), followed by left inferior parathyroid adenoma in 31 cases (30.1%). A total of 75 patients (72.8%) underwent minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, with 68 patients (90.7%) achieving a biochemical cure. The mean adenoma weight was 3.19±2.25 g. There was no statistically significant correlation (r) between preoperative biochemical parameters and adenoma weight. Conclusion Despite improvements in imaging and the easy availability of immunoassays for early diagnosis, renal disease continued to be the most common presentation, followed by skeletal involvement in our population. In developing countries like India, any patient presenting with nephrolithiasis or nephrocalcinosis, low bone mass, or fragility fractures should be evaluated for PHPT.

Surgical Aspects of Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Parathyroidectomy (PTX) is the treatment of choice for symptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). It is also the treatment of choice in asymptomatic PHPT with evidence for target organ involvement. This review updates surgical aspects of PHPT and proposes the following definitions based on international expert consensus: selective PTX (and reasons for conversion to an extended procedure), bilateral neck exploration for non-localized or multigland disease, subtotal PTX, total PTX with immediate or delayed autotransplantation, and transcervical thymectomy and extended en bloc PTX for parathyroid carcinoma. The systematic literature reviews discussed covered (i) the use of intraoperative PTH (ioPTH) for localized single-gland disease and (ii) the management of low BMD after PTX. Updates based on prospective observational studies are presented concerning PTX for multigland disease and hereditary PHPT syndromes, histopathology, intraoperative adjuncts, localization techniques, perioperative management, "reoperative" surgery and volume/outcome data. Postoperative complications are few and uncommon (<3%) in centers performing over 40 PTXs per year. This review is the first global consensus about surgery in PHPT and reflects the current practice in leading endocrine surgery units worldwide. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).

Single-Center Experience of Parathyroidectomy Using Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone Monitoring

Background and Objectives: Hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a rare endocrine disease associated with the elevated metabolism of calcium, vitamin D, and phosphate by the hyperfunctioning of the parathyroid glands. Here, we report our experience of parathyroidectomy using intraoperative parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) monitoring in a single tertiary hospital. Materials and Methods: From October 2018 to January 2022, a total of 47 patients underwent parathyroidectomy for HPT. We classified the patients into two groups—primary HPT (PHPT, n = 37) and renal HPT (RHPT, n = 10)—and then reviewed the patients’ data, including their general characteristics, laboratory results, and perioperative complications. Results: Thirty-five of the thirty-seven patients in the PHPT group underwent focused parathyroidectomy, while all ten patients in the RHPT group underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy. IOPTH monitoring based on the Milan criteria was used in all cases. Preoperative and 2-week, 6-month, and 12-month postoperative parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were within the normal range in the PHPT group, whereas they were higher than normal in the RHPT group. Transient hypocalcemia occurred only in the RHPT group, with calcium levels returning to normal levels 12 months after surgery. Conclusions: Parathyroidectomy with IOPTH monitoring in our hospital showed favorable clinical outcomes. However, owing to the small number of patients due to the low frequency of parathyroid disease, long-term, prospective studies are needed in the future.

The role of Rapid Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone (ioPTH) assay in determining outcome of parathyroidectomy in primary hyperparathyroidism: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a common endocrine disorder. In the last few decades, the introduction of Rapid Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone (ioPTH) monitoring has allowed to ensurance of the excision of all hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissues, reducing the risks of persistent and recurrent PHPT. However, the use of ioPTH is still debated among endocrine surgeons.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess if ioPTH monitoring is able to reduce the incidence of persistent or recurrent PHPT. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, ISI-Web of Science and Cochrane Library Database. Prospective and retrospective studies addressing the efficacy of ioPTH monitoring were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The random-effects model was assumed to account for different sources of variation among studies. The overall effect size was computed through the inverse variance method. Heterogeneity across studies, possible outlier studies, and publication bias were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 28 studies with 13,323 patients were included in the quantitative analysis. The incidence of operative failure was 3.2% in the case group and 5.8% in the control group. After excluding three outlier studies, the quantitative analysis revealed that ioPTH reduced significantly the incidence of postoperative persistent or recurrent PHPT. (Risk Difference = -0.02; CI = -0.03, -0.01; p < 0.001). There was no evidence of heterogeneity among the studies (Q = 19.92, p = 0.70; I² = 0%). The analysis of several continuous moderators revealed that the effectiveness of ioPTH was larger in studies with lower preoperative serum calcium values and higher incidences of multiple gland disease.

CONCLUSION

ioPTH monitoring is effective in reducing the incidence of persistent and recurrent PHPT. Its routine use should be suggested in the next guidelines regarding management of PHPT.

Use of Intraoperative Parathyroid Hormone in Minimally Invasive Parathyroidectomy for Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

Intraoperative parathyroid hormone (ioPTH) is a surgical adjunct that has been increasingly used during minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP). Despite its growing popularity, to our knowledge a meta-analysis comparing MIP with ioPTH vs MIP without ioPTH has not yet been conducted.

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of MIP with ioPTH for treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Data Sources

A systematic search of the databases PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Collaboration was performed to identify studies that compared MIP with and without ioPTH. Data were analyzed between August and September 2019.

Study Selection

Inclusion criteria consisted of randomized clinical trials and observational studies with a retrospective/prospective design, comparing MIP using ioPTH vs MIP not using ioPTH for treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism. Eligible studies had to present odds ratio (OR), risk ratio, or hazard ratio estimates (with 95% CI), standard errors, or number of events necessary to calculate these for the outcome of interest rate. Studies involving patients with secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism or those with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome were excluded.

Data Extraction

Two reviewers independently reviewed the literature according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. Dichotomous variables were pooled as ORs while continuous variables were compared using weighted mean differences. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was rate of cure. Secondary outcomes included need for reoperation, need for bilateral neck exploration, morbidity, and length of surgery.

Results

A total of 12 studies, involving 2290 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, were eligible for inclusion. The median (SD) age of participants was 60.1 (11.8) years and 77.3% of participants were women. The median Newcastle-Ottawa score was 7. Patients who underwent MIP with ioPTH had higher cure rates (OR, 3.88; 95% CI, 2.12-7.10; P < .001). There was a greater need for reoperation in the group of patients who had surgery without ioPTH (OR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.19-0.86; P = .02). There was a trend toward longer operating times/increased duration of surgery in the ioPTH group; however, this did not reach statistical significance (weighted mean difference, 21.62 minutes; 95% CI, -0.93 to 44.17 minutes; P = .06). The use of ioPTH was associated with higher rates of bilateral neck exploration (OR, 3.55; 95% CI, 1.27-9.92; P = .02).

Conclusions and Relevance

Use of ioPTH is associated with higher cure rates for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism undergoing MIP. Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy performed without ioPTH is associated with less conversion to bilateral neck exploration at initial surgery but with lower cure rates and an increased risk for reoperation.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO identifier: CRD42020148588.

A Novel Technology for Localization of Parathyroid Adenoma: Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Combined With Rapid Parathyroid Hormone Detection and Nano-Carbon Technology

Objective. The study aims to evaluate the clinic feasibility of rapid parathyroid hormone (PTH) detection and nano-carbon technology in preoperative diagnosis and localization of parathyroid adenoma. Methods. With the guidance of ultrasound, the operator performed the parathyroid puncture and tested the PTH value by using a PTH test kit, and then injected nano-carbon into parathyroid adenoma as a marker to observe whether the parathyroid adenoma was stained black during the final operation. Meanwhile, a part of excised specimen was made into homogenate and detected rapidly again by using the PTH test kit. The remaining was confirmed by intraoperative frozen pathological examination. Result. The sensitivity (12/12) of preoperative diagnosis was significantly higher than that of ultrasound (6/12), magnetic resonance imaging (7/12), and MIBI (9/12). During the operation, we found that the inner part of the parathyroid adenoma was stained black, and the PTH value of the specimen homogenate confirmed as parathyroid adenoma was more than 3000 pg/mL. Conclusion. This novel technology, as a very positive method for localization of parathyroid adenoma, plays an important role in guaranteeing the surgical reliability of parathyroid adenoma with help of nano-carbon technology.

Validation of selective use of intraoperative PTH monitoring in parathyroidectomy

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to validate our approach of treating primary hyperparathyroidism using sestamibi scan directed parathyroidectomy, without routine use of intraoperative parathyroid hormone measurements (ioPTH).

METHODS

We prospectively established a protocol limiting the use of ioPTH to patients with negative or equivocal sestamibi scans, and those who had risk factors for multi-gland disease. We then performed a retrospective review to determine our disease control rate.

RESULTS

128 patients underwent sestamibi-guided parathyroidectomy without (111/128 = 87%) or with (17/128 = 13%) ioPTH. The overall disease control (eucalcemia) rate was 95%. 3/111 (3%) of patients who had surgery without ioPTH measurements required re-exploration.

CONCLUSIONS

Selective use of ioPTH is an effective strategy. ioPTH is best reserved for patients who have non-localizing preoperative imaging, are at risk for multi-gland disease, or require revision surgery.

Impact of preoperative imaging on surgical approach for primary hyperparathyroidism: Data from single institution in India

CONTEXT

Preoperative localization of parathyroid adenoma is essential in deciding the surgical approach of parathyroidectomy.

AIM

To describe clinical and biochemical profile, evaluate preoperative imaging modalities and surgical approach in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

METHODOLOGY

This was a retrospective study conducted at the single institution. All patients who underwent evaluation and surgery for PHPT from 2011 to 2015 were included in the study.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients underwent surgery for PHPT. Mean (standard deviation) age was 51.6 (15.9) years with female to male ratio of 1.7:1. Forty patients had severe symptoms, and sixty had mild to moderate symptoms. The sensitivity of technetium-99m hexakis (2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile) (MIBI) scan and ultrasonography (USG) neck in identifying abnormal parathyroid gland was 93% (93/100) and 98% (98/100), respectively. The MIBI scan results of 90/93 (96.7%) patients corresponded with their surgical findings whereas preoperative USG findings of 96/98 patients (98%) showed correlation with operative findings. Intraoperative intact parathyroid hormone (IOPTH) levels at 10 min postexcision were measured in forty patients (minimally invasive parathyroidectomy = 38, bilateral neck exploration = 1, and unilateral neck exploration = 1). All patients except two had <50% fall in IOPTH. Adenoma weight was positively correlated with preoperative intact PTH.

CONCLUSION

We found that USG has higher sensitivity (98%) than MIBI scan (93%) in localizing abnormal parathyroid gland. Moreover, USG had a higher preoperative localization accuracy (93%) than MIBI scan (90%), allowing to choose an appropriate surgical approach. A higher proportion of patients (60%) had mild/asymptomatic form of PHPT.

Is focused parathyroidectomy appropriate for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism?

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine whether focused or complete parathyroidectomy was more appropriate and to compare follow-up data in primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 225 operations for PHPT at Yonsei University Health System between 2000 and 2012. After excluding 93 patients, the remaining 132 were divided into 2 groups: those who underwent focused parathyroidectomy (FP) and those who underwent conventional parathyroidectomy (CP). We compared clinicopathological features; preoperative calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphorus, vitamin D, 24-hour urine calcium, and alkaline phosphatase levels; postoperative calcium and PTH levels; pathologic diagnosis; multiplicity; and results of a localization study between the 2 groups.

Results

There was no significant difference in the rates of development of postoperative persistent hyperparathyroidism (1/122 FP patients and 1/10 CP patients) between the 2 groups due to a technical reason (FP 0.8% vs. CP 10.0%, P = 0.146). Multiglandular disease (MGD) was uncommon in all cases (6 of 132, 4.5%). All MGD cases were diagnosed using a preoperative localization study. Sestamibi scan and ultrasonography sensitivity were 94.2% and 90.2%, respectively.

Conclusion

We suggest that FP is appropriate in PHPT, except in cases of MGD if detected before the operation using preoperative imaging. Knowledge of hereditary PHPT and improved preoperative localization studies, such as high-resolution ultrasonography, contributed to the decision to perform FP rather than CP in all cases of unilateral results of the localizing study.

Characteristics of patients operated for primary hyperparathyroidism at university hospitals in Türkiye: differences among Türkiye's geographical regions

Purpose

The aim of this study was to define the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients operated on for primary hyperpatathyroidism (PHPT) at university hospitals in Türkiye, and to investigate the differences in the clinical presentations of the disease between different geographical regions.

Methods

Patients operated on for PHPT in the university hospitals of Türkiye were included in the study. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings and the operational data of the patients were investigated according to the whole country and to different geographical regions. Comparisons were performed according to whole country and regions.

Results

A total of 1,162 cases were included in the study from different regions and 20 university hospitals. The mean age of patients was 52.4 ± 0.38 (mean ± standard error) in the general population of Türkiye. The rates of hypertension, urolithiasis, bone disease and 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency were 35%, 18.6%, 67.6%, and 63%, respectively. The median parathormone (PTH), serum total calcium (Ca⁺²) and phosphorus value were 220 pg/mL (range, 70–2,500 pg/mL), 11.2 mg/dL (range, 9.5–11.2 mg/dL), and 2.4 mg/dL (range, 1–4.7 mg/dL), respectively. The median size of the adenomas resected was 16 mm (range, 4–70 mm). Significant differences were observed in the clinical and laboratory findings of the patients operated on due to PHPT between different geographical regions of Türkiye (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients with PHPT in different geographical regions of Türkiye differ. Furthermore, the general findings of the cases in Türkiye give us a hint that the severity of the disease here is somewhere between Eastern and Western countries.

Comparison of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy under local anaesthesia and minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism: a cost analysis

BACKGROUND

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) origins from a solitary adenoma in 70- 95% of cases. Moreover, the advances in methods for localizing an abnormal parathyroid gland made minimally invasive techniques more prominent. This study presents a micro-cost analysis of two parathyroidectomy techniques.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

72 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, video-assisted (MIVAP, group A, 52 patients) or "open" under local anaesthesia (OMIP, group B, 20 patients) for PHPT were reviewed. Operating room, consumable, anaesthesia, maintenance costs, equipment depreciation and surgeons/anaesthesiologists fees were evaluated. The patient's satisfaction and the rate of conversion to conventional parathyroidectomy were investigated. T-Student's, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests and Odds Ratio were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

1 patient of the group A and 2 of the group B were excluded from the cost analysis because of the conversion to the conventional technique. Concerning the remnant patients, the overall average costs were: for Operative Room, 1186,69 € for the MIVAP group (51 patients) and 836,11 € for the OMIP group (p<0,001); for the Team, 122,93 € (group A) and 90,02 € (group B) (p<0,001); the other operative costs were 1388,32 € (group A) and 928,23 € (group B) (p<0,001). The patient's satisfaction was very strongly in favour of the group B (Odds Ratio 20,5 with a 95% confidence interval).

CONCLUSIONS

MIVAP is more expensive compared to the "open" parathyroidectomy under local anaesthesia due to the costs of general anaesthesia and the longer operative time. Moreover, the patients generally prefer the local anaesthesia. Nevertheless, the rate of conversion to the conventional parathyroidectomy was relevant in the group of the local anaesthesia compared to the MIVAP, since the latter allows a four-gland exploration.