Tumors of the parathyroid glands. Changes in clinical features and in noninvasive localization studies sensitivity

Primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) is the most common cause of hypercalcaemia and 80-85% of the patients have parathyroid tumors. The purpose of this retrospective review was to analyse whether differences exist between patients with parathyroid tumors treated in the 1980s and 1990s. The results of analysis recorded in 253 patients undergone initial surgical neck exploration for hyper functioning parathyroid tumors are discussed. The clinical features of parathyroid tumors have changed in the nineties and increasing asymptomatic pHPT rate has been found. Although sensitivity and PPV of preoperative localization procedures has improved moderately, at present noninvasive techniques may offer excellent results and should be used in all patients with suspected parathyroid tumors