Incidence and prognosis of parathyroid gland carcinoma: a population-based study in The Netherlands estimating the preoperative diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid carcinoma is a rare malignancy and generally is diagnosed after surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. Lack of a preoperative diagnosis and ill-considered surgical planning with its impact on survival are ill-described. METHODS: In a retrospective population-based cohort study the clinical features, treatment, recurrences, and survival of 41 parathyroid cancer patients are reported and compared with characteristics of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. RESULTS: Patients with parathyroid carcinoma had significantly higher serum parathyroid hormone and calcium levels compared with patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Nineteen patients (46%) had a palpable neck mass. A parathyroid hormone level more than 3 times the upper normal limits was suspicious and levels more than 10 times carried a positive predictive value of 84% for carcinoma. Ten-year recurrence-free and disease-specific survival rates were 71% and 79%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Parathyroid hormone levels of more than 3 times upper normal limits, palpable neck mass, and profound hypercalcemia are suspicious signs of carcinoma necessitating surgical exploration by an experienced surgeon.

Utility of an intraoperative gamma probe in the surgical management of secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism.

BACKGROUND: In primary hyperparathyroidism the gamma probe is effective, but its role in secondary hyperparathyroidism is unclear. We investigated the utility of the probe in the surgical management of secondary and tertiary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: The value of the probe in guiding resection of parathyroids was determined prospectively in 29 patients with secondary or tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Resected tissues with radioactivity of greater than 20% as compared with the wound bed was considered hyperfunctional parathyroid and was confirmed histologically. RESULTS: The probe was helpful in guiding resection in 13% of the hyperplastic glands, including ectopic glands and those not detected preoperatively. The gamma probe confirmed the presence of hyperfunctional parathyroid after resection with a sensitivity and specificity of 97% and 92%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The probe is particularly useful in confirming the presence of hyperfunctional parathyroids after resection. It also is useful in identifying ectopic localizations, but its value is limited in guiding surgery for secondary or tertiary disease.

Value of 123I-subtraction and single-photon emission computed tomography in addition to planar 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy before parathyroid surgery.

PURPOSE: To find out if single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and (123)I-subtraction can enhance the findings of (99m)Tc-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy for the preoperative localization of parathyroid (PT) tumors. METHODS: Among the 111 consecutive patients who underwent preoperative planar (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy for hyperparathyroidism (HPT), 64 underwent delayed SPECT, and 17 underwent (123)I-subtraction. Two independent blinded experts scored the topographical localization, diagnostic confidence, and impact of each diagnostic modality on the surgical strategy. RESULTS: For adenomas, (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy had a sensitivity of 77% with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 83%. SPECT did not affect the sensitivity or PPV, but it increased the diagnostic confidence and changed the surgical strategy in 21% of the patients. (123)I-subtraction increased the sensitivity from 64% to 82%, but decreased the PPV from 88% to 82%. In hyperplastic glands, (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy had a sensitivity of 47% and a PPV of 95%. When (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy was combined with SPECT and (123)I-subtraction, the results were 44%/10% and 52%/92%, respectively. Both SPECT and (123)I-subtraction decreased the diagnostic confidence. CONCLUSIONS: Adding SPECT to (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy improved the surgical decision for parathyroid adenomas. The addition of (123)I-subtraction was of limited value. For hyperplastic glands, (99m)Tc-MIBI scintigraphy was relatively ineffective, even with the addition of SPECT or (123)I-subtraction.

Treatment of a ruptured thoracoabdominal aneurysm with a stent-graft covering the celiac axis.

PURPOSE: To present a case of successful emergency endovascular repair of a ruptured, probably mycotic, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm (TAAA) with a stent-graft deliberately covering the celiac axis. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old woman with significant pulmonary comorbidity presented with a ruptured mycotic TAAA extending to the celiac axis. The aneurysm was excluded with a stent-graft soaked in rifampicin and deployed to deliberately occlude the celiac axis for effective distal sealing and fixation. The patient recovered well and was prescribed antibiotic treatment for up to 6 months. CONCLUSION: Endovascular repair of a ruptured TAAA may be a life-saving option. In emergency situations when poor distal anatomy is present, covering the celiac artery with the stent-graft should be considered.

Early identification of risk factors for refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with long-term renal replacement therapy.

BACKGROUND: Secondary hyperparathyroidism can complicate renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with end-stage renal disease. Current medical therapies often result in hypercalcaemia and fail to correct hyperparathyroidism, but might be more effective at an early stage of disease. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors at the start and during the first year of RRT for refractory secondary hyperparathyroidism needing parathyroidectomy (PTx) during long-term follow-up. METHODS: A total of 202 consecutive patients starting RRT between August 1988 and August 1996 at our centre with at least 1 year of follow-up were included. Biochemical and treatment data at the start and during the first year of RRT were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for PTx during follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (16%) needed PTx after 52+/-23 months of RRT. Need for PTx was not different between patients undergoing haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, but was associated with parameters reflecting calcium and phosphate control at start and after 1 year of RRT. In a Cox multivariate model, serum parathyroid hormone [relative risk (RR): 1.02 per pmol/l; P<0.001], phosphate (RR: 1.107 per 0.1 mmol/l; P = 0.002) and alkaline phosphatase (RR: 1.004 per U/l; P = 0.049) after 1 year of RRT were independently associated with increased risk for PTx. CONCLUSIONS: Failure of control of calcium-phosphate metabolism at the start of and early during RRT is strongly associated with PTx during long-term follow-up. Given the high prevalence of insufficient phosphate control, patients may benefit from aggressive correction of serum phosphate in the pre-dialysis and early dialysis period.