Long-term outcome of surgical techniques for sporadic primary hyperparathyroidism in a tertiary referral center in Belgium.

purposeSurgery remains the only permanent treatment option for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). To date, the number of long-term outcome studies of parathyroidectomy is limited. This study aims to compare different surgical approaches and evaluate the importance of preoperative localization imaging in the treatment of pHPT.

methodsAll 200 consecutive patients with a parathyroidectomy for sporadic pHPT without planned concomitant surgery between 09/2009 and 04/2021 in a Belgian tertiary referral hospital were enrolled. All patients underwent at least two preoperative localization imaging studies (neck ultrasound, CT, SPECT, and/or Sestamibi scintigraphy) of the parathyroid glands. The main outcomes were the (long-term) cured proportion and postoperative morbidity (hypocalcemia, recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, return to theater for bleeding, and wound morbidity).

resultsMost patients were referred with concordant positive imaging (82%, n = 164). Only nine patients (4.5%) had double negative imaging, not revealing a possible adenoma. The remaining 27 (13.5%) were referred with discordant imaging. Parathyroidectomy was performed via traditional cervicotomy (30%), mini-open approach (39.5%), or endoscopic approach (30.5%). Morbidity was low with no persistent hypocalcemia, one return to theater for bleeding, and no 30-day mortality. In the concordant imaging population, 13 patients (8%) had multiglandular disease. Overall, 97.5% was considered cured. Long-term recurrence was 12% with a minimal follow-up of 5 years.

conclusionThis consecutive, single-surgeon, single-center cohort with extensive data collection and long-term follow-up confirms the safety and excellent cured proportions of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. Disease recurrence becomes more important long after surgery.