The utility of the radionuclide probe in parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism

INTRODUCTION Parathyroidectomy is the definitive treatment for primary hyperparathyroidism but the intraoperative identification of adenomas is challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a radionuclide probe (RNP) in addition to intraoperative parathyroid hormone ( IOPTH) measurement as an intraoperative diagnostic adjunct in patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of patients treated between 2004 and 2015 in a university affiliated teaching hospital. Patients were grouped into those with RNP use (RNP+) and those without (RNP-). The primary outcome measure was rate of operative failure, which included false positives. The diagnostic sensitivity and positive predictive value of both RNP and IOPTH were also evaluated. RESULTS A total of 298 patients were included in the study, 127 (42.6%) being in the RNP+ group and 171 (57.4%) in the RNP- group. The false positive rate for the RNP+ patients was 1.6% compared...