title: Reoperation for persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the causes and outcomes of reoperation for persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of 102 patients with persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism who underwent reoperation by 1 surgeon between 1985 and 1995.
  
  
  METHODS
  Only patients with persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism were selected; patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, parathyroid cancer, familial hyperparathyroidism, and previous thyroid operations were omitted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Performed by a single unblinded researcher.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reasons for failed parathyroid operations included tumor in ectopic position (53%), incomplete resection of multiple abnormal glands (37%), adenoma in normal position missed during previous surgery (7%), and regrowth of previously resected tumor (3%). Of the ectopic glands, 28% were paraesophageal, 26% in the mediastinum (nonthymic), 24% intrathymic, 11% intrathyroidal, 9% in the carotid sheath, and 2% in a high cervical position. Eighty-three percent of ectopic glands were accessible via cervical incision. The success rate of reoperations was 95%. One patient (1%) became permanently hypocalcemic after reoperation; 1 patient (1%) suffered permanent unilateral vocal cord paralysis. The sensitivities of preoperative localization studies were as follows: technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scan, 77%; magnetic resonance imaging, 77%; selective venous catheterization for intact parathyroid hormone, 77%; thallium-technetium scan, 68%; ultrasonography, 57%; and computed tomography, 42%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated parathyroidectomy can be avoided in more than 95% of patients if an experienced surgeon performs bilateral cervical exploration during the initial parathyroid operation. For patients with persistent or recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism, preoperative localization studies and a focused surgical approach can result in a 95% success rate with minimum complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco/Mt Zion Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Düren
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.forename: Q Y
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Duh
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Siperstein
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004210:Dissection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome