title: Unilateral parathyroidectomy: the value of the localizing scan.
abstract: Surgery for correction of primary hyperparathyroidism utilizing a standard bilateral neck exploration has a success rate of approximately 90 to 95%. With the inception of pre-operative localization studies that were 90% accurate in localizing the diseased gland, the concept arose that a unilateral exploration could be as successful as a bilateral exploration. Bilateral exploration of the neck for hyperparathyroidism exposes the patient to a greater potential of morbidity for hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. It is our feeling based on personal experience that unilateral parathyroidectomy in selective cases can be as successful as the bilateral operation and be more cost effective, saving over $1,100 (U.S.) per case.
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, California.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Petti
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Chonkich
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Morgan
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005629:Frozen Sections / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007011:Hypoparathyroidism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000191:economics; D010279:Parathyroid Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013667:Technetium / Q000191:economics; D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes / Q000191:economics; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013794:Thallium Radioisotopes; D014807:Vitamin D; D013667:Technetium; D002118:Calcium