title: [Severe hyperparathyroidism in 2 uremic patients. Diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties].
abstract: We report here the unusually difficult cases of two patients with end-stage renal failure who suffered from severe hyperparathyroidism requiring surgical correction. The first patient had previously undiagnosed primary hyperparathyroidism. A first surgical neck exploration led to the discovery of four glands, paradoxically normal in size and aspect, which were removed. Subsequently, a supernumerary gland was localized in the mediastinum by computerized tomography and removed via sternotomy. After confirming the hypoparathyroid state, parathyroid autotransplantation was performed using cryopreserved tissue. The second patient had five hyperplastic parathyroid glands removed during the first neck exploration, followed by immediate parathyroid autografting. Because of the persistence of severe hyperparathyroidism, forearm autografts were subsequently removed and a sternotomy performed. Both failed to improve parathyroid hyperfunction. Numerous localization procedures remained negative. A repeat surgical neck exploration was performed because of positive double isotope scanning but was of no success in preventing fatal outcome, as were all medical treatments. These observations of two patients illustrate the difficulties in localizing and removing ectopic parathyroid lesions. Even when relying on the presently available powerful diagnostic means, correction of severe hyperparathyroidism may be extremely difficult.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Nefrologia, Ospedale SS. Annunziata, Taranto.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buisson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scatizzi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Drüeke
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dubost
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000236:Adenoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006962:Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D015175:Prolactinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D014511:Uremia / Q000150:complications*
vernacular_title: Iperparatiroidismo grave in due pazienti uremici. Difficoltà diagnostiche e terapeutiche.