title: Minimal incision parathyroidectomy: cure, cosmesis, and cost.
abstract: The goals of operative treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism are (1) cure; (2) minimal invasion; and (3) cost-effectiveness. The optimal strategy is controversial. Retrospective review of was undertaken 66 previously unoperated patients having minimal-incision, full-neck exploration by one surgeon over 29 months. A group of 51 women and 15 men had open full neck exploration under general anesthesia through a small (25-40 mm) incision using specifically selected instruments; patients remained hospitalized overnight. Preoperative sestamibi scans were obtained before referral for 17 patients: 11 had localized disease, and 6 did not (65% sensitivity). Four parathyroid glands were identified in 98% of patients; intraoperative frozen section was used selectively on a median of one gland per patient. About 76% of patients had single-gland disease, 6% had two-gland disease, and 18% had four-gland hyperplasia. One patient had four normal cervical parathyroid glands and an aortopulmonary window parathyroid adenoma resected at thoracotomy 1 week later; preoperative sestamibi scans failed to localize his disease. There were no nerve injuries and a 98% cure rate after initial cervical exploration. Excluding the cost of the sestamibi scans, there was no difference between those who had preoperative localization and those who did not; 60% of hospital costs were operating room time-related. Minimal-incision parathyroidectomy is effective for curing hyperparathyroidism and has excellent cosmetic results with negligible scar. Preoperative sestamibi scanning had no impact on cure or treatment costs. Strategies to improve cost-effectiveness must address the substantial costs of anesthesia and operating room services.
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrine and Oncologic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, One Barnes Hospital Plaza, Suite 8109, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lowney
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Doherty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006961:Hyperparathyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States