title: Unilateral and bilateral surgery for parathyroid disease.
abstract: The principles of successful parathyroid surgery, regardless of the approach, demand a clear understanding of the philosophy behind the surgical exploration. A systematic approach, founded in science and refined by experience, is necessary to achieve long-term, reproducible surgical success. This article discusses the underlying logic and the advantages and disadvantages of the two basic approaches to parathyroid pathology: unilateral and bilateral cervical exploration. The authors do not to advocate a particular technique;instead, they provide a conceptual framework to surgical parathyroid disease upon which more advanced discussion can be built.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Service, Head and Neck Surgery, Sloan-Kettering Cancer University Center, 1275 York Avenue, Box 435, New York, New York 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Neil D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: Mark K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Wax
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D010282:Parathyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016105:Parathyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*