RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Primary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) is a common endocrine disease treated very effectively by surgery. There have been changes in the management of parathyroid surgery in our hospital: since 1991, all patients have been treated by a service of endocrine surgery. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the outcome of the first 50 patients treated in the endocrine surgery service. METHODS: A prospective analysis of clinical characteristics, laboratory studies, intraoperative findings, surgical complications and outcome of 50 patients with primary HPT seen between July 1991 and March 1994 was performed. RESULTS: Ten patients were male and 40 female with a mean age of 53 years. A parathyroid adenoma was found in 43 patients, a parathyroid hyperplasia in five, a double adenoma in one and an adenoma in a supernumerary gland in one patient. Surgical cure of the disease was achieved in 96% of the patients after one surgical procedure and in 100% during the same hospital stay after repeat cervical exploration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the use of surgical cervical exploration in the treatment of primary HPT.