Surgical treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment in the patient effected by secondary hyperparathyroidism consists in subtotal parathyroidectomy or total parathyroidectomy plus autotransplantation of parathyroid tissue. METHODS: The results obtained with surgical treatment of 6 patients observed in the years 1995-1996 are analyzed. Two glands were hyperplastic in four patients, 3 in the others. Every patient was submitted to a subtotal parathyroidectomy. RESULTS: Postoperative course was marked by transient hypoparathyroidism in one case. After 18 months of follow-up, no recurrences were observed. CONCLUSIONS: It is pointed out that in case of secondary hyperparathyroidism subtotal parathyroidectomy represents the surgical treatment of choice, according with literature data. Otherwise total parathyroidectomy plus autotransplantation, characterized by a more complex surgical technique, lead to the same results.