World J. Surg. 15, 546-550, 1991
O
World Journal of Surgery 9 1991 by the Soci6t6 lnternationale de Chirurgie
Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: Diagnosis of Site of Recurrence Daniel C a s a n o v a , M.D., Emile Sarfati, M.D., Angel De Francisco, M.D., J. Antonio A m a d o , M.D., Manuel Arias, M.D., and C l a u d e Dubost, M.D. Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria~ Santander, Spain and Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris, Paris, France Persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism after total parathyroidectomy with forearm implant may be caused by hyperplastic grafted tissue, residual parathyroid tissue left in the neck or the presence of a supernumerary gland not found during surgery. A correct assessment of graft function is needed to localize the source of hormone excess and to avoid an unnecessary neck reoperation in cases of graft dependent hyperparathyroidism. In 12 patients with relapsing hyperparathyroidism after total parathyroidectomy with forearm implant, total iscbemic blockade of the arm bearing the parathyroid graft produced a "transitory implanteet0my '' with a significant reduction of serum levels of intact PTH in those with graft hyperfunetion. In 6 patients with proved supernumerary glands, total ischemia of the graft was not followed by significant changes in intact PTH.~-Iyperparathyroidism was reversed after surgical resection of the parathyr61d implants in the 6 patients with positive responses to the ischemic manefiver. A repeat neck reoperation removing cervical or mediastinai supernumerary glands was followed by control of recurrent hyperparathyroidism in the 6 patients with a negative response to the ischemic blockade. Total ischemic blockade of the arm bearing the parathyroid graft is a valuable new method for a correct assessment of graft function after total parathyroidectomy wit h forearm autotransplantation.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a frequent complication of chronic renal failure. Pruritus, muscular pain, osteitis fibrosa and fractures frequently present in patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. Resistance to vitamin D treatment, in the absence of aluminum excess, is an indication for parathyroidect0mY to control the disease [1-4]. The aim of surgery is to reduce the parathyroid mass in an attempt to obtain normal mineral metabolism. The amount of residual parathyroid tissue left in place is difficult to determine. Since the persistence of chronic renal failure enhances recurrence in some patients, subtotal parathyroidectomy (PTX) sometimes requires a neck reoperation, with the subsequent high surgical morbidity [5-7]. Total PTX with autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue is a well accepted treatment in the control of vitamin D resistant secondary hyperparathyroidism [8-11]. Hypoparathyroidism and recurrence are complications associated with this surgical procedure. Postoperative hypoparathyroidism can be prevented by transplantation of a portion of cryopreserved glands Reprint requests: Daniel Casanova, M.D., Servicio de Cirugia General, Hospital Valdecilla, Santander 39008, Spain.
[12] and recurrent hyperparathyroidism can be controlled by resection of a part of the hyperfunctioning graft under local anesthesia [13]. Persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism after total PTX with forearm implant can present a difficult diagnostic probleml The s0urce of excess PTH could be from either hyperplastic grafted tissue, residual parathyroid tissue left in the neck, or a supernumerary gland not found during surgery [13, 14-16]. Several diagnostic procedures have been employed to localize the source of PTH excess after failed surgery. Isotopic studies with thallium technetium subtraction scanning, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and high resolution ultyasonography have a low sensitivity [17]. Studies on th e parathyroid hormone gradient in the blood draining the graft bearing arm versus the contralateral arm have also failed, independently of the assays used to recognize the PTH molecule [12]. Control of recurrent or persistent hyperparathyroidism after total PTX with forearm implant needs a correct assessment of graft function in order to avoid either unnecessary resection of grafted parathyroid tissue or an unnecessary neck exploration. The half life of intact parathyroid hormone has been found to be less than five minutes [18]. Complete ischemic blockade of the arm bearing the graft could reflect in a few minutes acute PTH changes in cases of graft dependent hyperparathyroidism. We present in this report a series of patient s with recurrent hyperparathyroidism in which the blockade of parathyroid graft function allowed the correct diagnosis of the site of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue to be made. Patients and Methods
Twelve patients under dialysis treatment who had undergone a total parathyroidectomy with forearm autotransplantation in two different hospitals (Paris and Santander) presented with evidence of hyperparathyroidism 0.5 to 10 years after surgery. Surgical technique had been performed in the standard manner. Neck exploration demonstrated the presence of 4 parathyroid glands which were removed in each patient. The thymus was removed, too. Between 12 and 15 pieces of 1 mm size and a total weight of 150-200 mg were prepared from one gland. The parathyroid tissue was autotransplanted in the muscle of the
D. Casanova et al.: Diagnosis of Recurrent Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Table 1. Clinical and biochemical data of patients.
Patient
Time after PTX (yrs)
Age
Sex
1
61
M
4
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
55 40 33 68 54 44 56 55 36 69 47
M M M F F F F M F M F
3 3 2 10 9 6 0.5 9 7 9 6
547
pg/ml. Intra-assay coefficient of variation was 4%. Correlation coefficient between the two intact PTH assays was r:0.97.
Total calcium (rag%)
iPTH
Normal value
10.3 10.5 9.9 10.0 8.6 11.2 11.5 11.4 8.2 8.4 8.2 8.6
22 26 33 42 700 925 68 21 640 1.390 845 950
O
World Journal of Surgery 9 1991 by the Soci6t6 lnternationale de Chirurgie
Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: Diagnosis of Site of Recurrence Daniel C a s a n o v a , M.D., Emile Sarfati, M.D., Angel De Francisco, M.D., J. Antonio A m a d o , M.D., Manuel Arias, M.D., and C l a u d e Dubost, M.D. Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria~ Santander, Spain and Faculty of Medicine, University of Paris, Paris, France Persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism after total parathyroidectomy with forearm implant may be caused by hyperplastic grafted tissue, residual parathyroid tissue left in the neck or the presence of a supernumerary gland not found during surgery. A correct assessment of graft function is needed to localize the source of hormone excess and to avoid an unnecessary neck reoperation in cases of graft dependent hyperparathyroidism. In 12 patients with relapsing hyperparathyroidism after total parathyroidectomy with forearm implant, total iscbemic blockade of the arm bearing the parathyroid graft produced a "transitory implanteet0my '' with a significant reduction of serum levels of intact PTH in those with graft hyperfunetion. In 6 patients with proved supernumerary glands, total ischemia of the graft was not followed by significant changes in intact PTH.~-Iyperparathyroidism was reversed after surgical resection of the parathyr61d implants in the 6 patients with positive responses to the ischemic manefiver. A repeat neck reoperation removing cervical or mediastinai supernumerary glands was followed by control of recurrent hyperparathyroidism in the 6 patients with a negative response to the ischemic blockade. Total ischemic blockade of the arm bearing the parathyroid graft is a valuable new method for a correct assessment of graft function after total parathyroidectomy wit h forearm autotransplantation.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism is a frequent complication of chronic renal failure. Pruritus, muscular pain, osteitis fibrosa and fractures frequently present in patients with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism. Resistance to vitamin D treatment, in the absence of aluminum excess, is an indication for parathyroidect0mY to control the disease [1-4]. The aim of surgery is to reduce the parathyroid mass in an attempt to obtain normal mineral metabolism. The amount of residual parathyroid tissue left in place is difficult to determine. Since the persistence of chronic renal failure enhances recurrence in some patients, subtotal parathyroidectomy (PTX) sometimes requires a neck reoperation, with the subsequent high surgical morbidity [5-7]. Total PTX with autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue is a well accepted treatment in the control of vitamin D resistant secondary hyperparathyroidism [8-11]. Hypoparathyroidism and recurrence are complications associated with this surgical procedure. Postoperative hypoparathyroidism can be prevented by transplantation of a portion of cryopreserved glands Reprint requests: Daniel Casanova, M.D., Servicio de Cirugia General, Hospital Valdecilla, Santander 39008, Spain.
[12] and recurrent hyperparathyroidism can be controlled by resection of a part of the hyperfunctioning graft under local anesthesia [13]. Persistent or recurrent hyperparathyroidism after total PTX with forearm implant can present a difficult diagnostic probleml The s0urce of excess PTH could be from either hyperplastic grafted tissue, residual parathyroid tissue left in the neck, or a supernumerary gland not found during surgery [13, 14-16]. Several diagnostic procedures have been employed to localize the source of PTH excess after failed surgery. Isotopic studies with thallium technetium subtraction scanning, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and high resolution ultyasonography have a low sensitivity [17]. Studies on th e parathyroid hormone gradient in the blood draining the graft bearing arm versus the contralateral arm have also failed, independently of the assays used to recognize the PTH molecule [12]. Control of recurrent or persistent hyperparathyroidism after total PTX with forearm implant needs a correct assessment of graft function in order to avoid either unnecessary resection of grafted parathyroid tissue or an unnecessary neck exploration. The half life of intact parathyroid hormone has been found to be less than five minutes [18]. Complete ischemic blockade of the arm bearing the graft could reflect in a few minutes acute PTH changes in cases of graft dependent hyperparathyroidism. We present in this report a series of patient s with recurrent hyperparathyroidism in which the blockade of parathyroid graft function allowed the correct diagnosis of the site of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue to be made. Patients and Methods
Twelve patients under dialysis treatment who had undergone a total parathyroidectomy with forearm autotransplantation in two different hospitals (Paris and Santander) presented with evidence of hyperparathyroidism 0.5 to 10 years after surgery. Surgical technique had been performed in the standard manner. Neck exploration demonstrated the presence of 4 parathyroid glands which were removed in each patient. The thymus was removed, too. Between 12 and 15 pieces of 1 mm size and a total weight of 150-200 mg were prepared from one gland. The parathyroid tissue was autotransplanted in the muscle of the
D. Casanova et al.: Diagnosis of Recurrent Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
Table 1. Clinical and biochemical data of patients.
Patient
Time after PTX (yrs)
Age
Sex
1
61
M
4
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
55 40 33 68 54 44 56 55 36 69 47
M M M F F F F M F M F
3 3 2 10 9 6 0.5 9 7 9 6
547
pg/ml. Intra-assay coefficient of variation was 4%. Correlation coefficient between the two intact PTH assays was r:0.97.
Total calcium (rag%)
iPTH
Normal value
10.3 10.5 9.9 10.0 8.6 11.2 11.5 11.4 8.2 8.4 8.2 8.6
22 26 33 42 700 925 68 21 640 1.390 845 950
